Tack \Tack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Tacking.]

[Cf. OD. tacken to touch, take, seize, fix, akin to E. take. See Tack a small nail.]

1. To fasten or attach. ``In hopes of getting some commendam tacked to their sees.'' --Swift.

And tacks the center to the sphere. --Herbert.

2. Especially, to attach or secure in a slight or hasty manner, as by stitching or nailing; as, to tack together the sheets of a book; to tack one piece of cloth to another; to tack on a board or shingle; to tack one piece of metal to another by drops of solder.

3. In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to. --Macaulay.

4. (Naut.) To change the direction of (a vessel) when sailing closehauled, by putting the helm alee and shifting the tacks and sails so that she will proceed to windward nearly at right angles to her former course.

Note: In tacking, a vessel is brought to point at first directly to windward, and then so that the wind will blow against the other side.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tack \Tack\, n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See Techy.]

1. A stain; a tache. [Obs.]

2. [Cf. L. tactus.]

A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack. [Obs. or Colloq.]

--Drayton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tack \Tack\, n. [OE. tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a branch, twig, G. zacke a twig, prong, spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike; cf. also Sw. tagg prickle, point, Icel. t[=a]g a willow twig, Ir. taca a peg, nail, fastening, Gael. tacaid, Armor. & Corn. tach; perhaps akin to E. take. Cf. Attach, Attack, Detach, Tag an end, Zigzag.]

1. A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.

2. That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. See Tack, v. t., 3. --Macaulay.

Some tacks had been made to money bills in King Charles's time. --Bp. Burnet.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tack \Tack\, v. i. (Naut.) To change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and sails; also (as said of a vessel), to have her direction changed through the shifting of the helm and sails. See Tack, v. t., 4.

Monk, . . . when he wanted his ship to tack to larboard, moved the mirth of his crew by calling out, ``Wheel to the left.'' --Macaulay.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)