Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Teetotum
Tee-to′tum
,Noun.
[For T-
totum
. It was used for playing games of chance, and was four-sided, one side having the letter T on it, standing for Latin totum
all, meaning, take all that is staked, whence the name. The other three sides each had a letter indicating an English or Latin word; as P meaning put down, N nothing or L. nil
, H half. See Total
.] A child’s toy, somewhat resembling a top, and twirled by the fingers.
The staggerings of the gentleman . . . were like those of a
teetotum
nearly spent. Dickens.