table rapping

noun

variants or table-rapping
ˈtā-bəl-ˌra-piŋ How to pronounce table rapping (audio)
or less commonly table tapping or table-tapping
ˈtā-bəl-ˌta-piŋ How to pronounce table rapping (audio)
: spirit rapping
The best Sherlock Holmes stories were written before 1916, when Arthur Conan Doyle officially converted to spiritualism and took to table-rapping.—Ian Thomson

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of table rapping was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near table rapping

table of organization

table rapping

table roll

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Table rapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/table%20rapping. Accessed 28 Jan. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of doctrinaire

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Commonly Confused Words Quiz

  • vector image of a face with thought expression
  • I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card.
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games