# taps

> English word · Noun · IPA /tæps/ · frequency rank #13,824

## Definitions
1. A signal, by drum or trumpet, for extinguishing all lights in soldiers' quarters and retiring to bed, usually given about a quarter of an hour after tattoo; the signal is sometimes also given during the funeral of a soldier.

## Etymology
From tap (noun) + -s. Noun 1 sense 1 (“signal for extinguishing all lights in soldiers’ quarters and retiring to bed”) is from the fact that the signal was originally made using a drum.

## Easily confused with
- **TS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-ts)
- **tp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tp)
- **top** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-top)
- **tax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tax)
- **tip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tip)
- **tar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tar)
- **tat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tat)
- **TDS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tds)
- **TOS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tos)
- **tau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tau)
- **tay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tay)
- **TCP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tcp)
- **TMS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tms)
- **TPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tps)
- **TRP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-trp)
- **Taz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-taz)
- **tss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-tss)
- **twp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-twp)
- **TTP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-ttp)
- **this** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taps-vs-this)

## Common misspellings (6)
`atps`, `tapps`, `tapss`, `tasp`, `tpas`, `ttaps`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/taps