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Glite Dictionary
table tapping

table tapping

9.9
A way people try to talk to the dead by knocking on a table during a meeting
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : golpes en la mesa
  • Many Victorians believed that table tapping could help them speak to the spirits of departed loved ones.

Examples

  • The séance featured dramatic table tapping that left the participants both frightened and fascinated.

  • Researchers debunked the claims of table tapping by revealing clever tricks hidden under the table.

  • During the séance, they practiced table tapping to contact the spirits.

  • Have you ever witnessed table tapping at a séance?

  • Many Victorians believed that table tapping could help them speak to the spirits of departed loved ones.

  • The séance featured dramatic table tapping that left the participants both frightened and fascinated.

  • During the séance, they practiced table tapping to contact the spirits.

Synonyms

table rapping
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A way people try to talk with dead people by tapping a table

uses the same method but is named with a different sound word
spirit rapping
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
9.9

A way people think ghosts answer by making short knocking sounds

uses knocking to send planned messages rather than only replies
table tipping
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
9.9

A table moving during a séance that people say is caused by spirits

focuses on sound messages rather than moving furniture to communicate
table turning
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
9.9

A spiritual practice where people say a table moves during a meeting with spirits

describes sound-based messages instead of rotational movement used as signs
table tilting
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
9.9

A practice where a table moves during a meeting to contact spirits

refers to sound signals rather than slow leaning movements
table lifting
vstable tapping
  • Archaic
9.9

A rising of a table during a seance that people say spirits cause it

concerns sound communication not vertical lifting of objects

Surface Forms

table tapping singular
table tappings plural

Morphology

table + tapping

The compound is directly built from 'table' + 'tapping', so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it refers to tapping a table (the physical action). However, the specific ritual/spirits-seance meaning (using the tapping as a method of communication with spirits) requires cultural/idiomatic knowledge and is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Table tapping may come from old meetings where people tried to contact the dead; they put their hands on a table and listened as the tapping sounded like answers from spirits. So, table tapping came to mean a claimed way 'to communicate with spirits'.