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Glite Dictionary
📞 A text phone 🖨️ A teletypewriter 💻 A computer terminal
TTY

TTY

1 9.8
An old machine that types and sends messages over wires
  • noun
  • /ˈtiːˈtiːˈwaɪ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : teletipo
  • In the 1970s, many offices used a TTY to communicate over long distances before the rise of computers.

Examples

  • The old TTY allowed users to type messages that were transmitted over telegraph lines instantly.

  • If you type who, then this, this line here, this TTY or pseudo TTY in this case is is the actual device.

  • The technician connected the TTY to the telephone line to send typed messages clearly.

Synonyms

teletype
vsTTY
  • Archaic
4 8.4

A machine that sends and prints typed messages over long distances

is the electromechanical device term emphasizing equipment rather than system
telex
vsTTY
  • Archaic
4 9.3

A machine that types and sends written messages to distant places

is broader in covering both telegraph and telephone line transmissions
teleprinter
vsTTY
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A machine like a typewriter that sends and prints messages over wires

focuses on the same use but emphasizes historical precomputer context
teletype machine
vsTTY
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A machine that types and prints messages sent over telegraph lines

is named as electromechanical hardware used also over telephone lines
teletypewriter
vsTTY
  • Archaic
8.8

A machine like a typewriter that prints messages sent over wires

is specified as an electromechanical device used particularly before computers

Surface Forms

TTY singular
TTYs plural

Etymology

TTY is short for teletypewriter, a machine that let people 'type' messages to each other over wires. Tele- means 'far' and typewriter is a 'machine for typing', which is why a TTY was used to send and receive typed messages before computers.