What does "telltale" mean?

One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.

Telltale

Common synonyms include: blabbermouth, blabbermouth, talebearer, tattletale, tattletale, a tale-bearing animal.

//ˈtɛlteɪl// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Noun

1
One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
"Your husband is at hand; I heare his Trumpet, / We are not tell-tales, Madam; feare you not."
2
someone who gossips indiscreetly wordnet
3
An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
"A railroad company, which has properly erected a “telltale,” or signal board, to give warning of the approach of a train to a bridge and which lights the place at night by an electric light, is not responsible for injury caused at night by the “telltale” to a brakeman who had been passing under it at regular intervals for five weeks, though when injured he was standing upon a new car higher than those before used, and though he ad received no warning from the company as to the danger of standing upon such a car while passing under the "telltale"."
4
Something that serves to reveal something else. figuratively
"The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar."
5
A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.

Show 6 more definitions

6
A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
"The sailmakers mistake can be an excellent way to lose a race as the telltale signals were disturbed and confusing."
7
A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
8
A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
9
A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
10
A bird, the tattler.
11
A story or fable that has a moral or message.
""Metamorphoses . . ." is the title of a book of telltales (or serialised fables) written by Lucius Apulei¡us, a neo-platonist priest in the second century A.D."