Mute \Mute\, n.
   1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability,
      unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically:
      (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from
          early life, is unable to use articulate language; a
          deaf-mute.
      (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral.
      (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to
          speak.
      (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is
          selected for his place because he can not speak.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent
      letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech
      formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the
      passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other
      material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect
      position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument,
      in order to deaden or soften the tone.
      [1913 Webster]

T \T\ (t[=e]),
   the twentieth letter of the English alphabet, is a nonvocal
   consonant. With the letter h it forms the digraph th, which
   has two distinct sounds, as in thin, then. See Guide to
   Pronunciation, [sect][sect]262-264, and also [sect][sect]153,
   156, 169, 172, 176, 178-180.
   [1913 Webster] The letter derives its name and form from the
   Latin, the form of the Latin letter being further derived
   through the Greek from the Ph[oe]nician. The ultimate origin
   is probably Egyptian. It is etymologically most nearly
   related to d, s, th; as in tug, duke; two, dual, L. duo;
   resin, L. resina, Gr. "rhti`nh, tent, tense, a., tenuous,
   thin; nostril, thrill. See D, S.
   [1913 Webster]

   T bandage (Surg.), a bandage shaped like the letter T, and
      used principally for application to the groin, or
      perineum.

   T cart, a kind of fashionable two seated wagon for pleasure
      driving.

   T iron.
   (a) A rod with a short crosspiece at the end, -- used as a
       hook.
   (b) Iron in bars, having a cross section formed like the
       letter T, -- used in structures.

   T rail, a kind of rail for railroad tracks, having no
      flange at the bottom so that a section resembles the
      letter T.

   T square, a ruler having a crosspiece or head at one end,
      for the purpose of making parallel lines; -- so called
      from its shape. It is laid on a drawing board and guided
      by the crosspiece, which is pressed against the straight
      edge of the board. Sometimes the head is arranged to be
      set at different angles.

   To a T, exactly, perfectly; as, to suit to a T. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

T, the twentieth letter of the English alphabet, was by the Greeks
absurdly called _tau_.  In the alphabet whence ours comes it had the
form of the rude corkscrew of the period, and when it stood alone
(which was more than the Phoenicians could always do) signified
_Tallegal_, translated by the learned Dr. Brownrigg, "tanglefoot."