Tile

Tile (?), v. t. [See 2d Tiler.] To protect from the intrusion of the uninitiated; as, to tile a Masonic lodge.

Tile, n. [OE. tile, tigel, AS. tigel, tigol, fr. L. tegula, from tegere to cover. See Thatch, and cf. Tegular.] 1. A plate, or thin piece, of baked clay, used for covering the roofs of buildings, for floors, for drains, and often for ornamental mantel works.

2. (Arch.) (a) A small slab of marble or other material used for flooring. (b) A plate of metal used for roofing.

3. (Metal.) A small, flat piece of dried earth or earthenware, used to cover vessels in which metals are fused.

4. A draintile.

5. A stiff hat. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Tile drain, a drain made of tiles. -- Tile earth, a species of strong, clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. [Prov. Eng.] -- Tile kiln, a kiln in which tiles are burnt; a tilery. -- Tile ore (Min.), an earthy variety of cuprite. -- Tile red, light red like the color of tiles or bricks. -- Tile tea, a kind of hard, flat brick tea. See Brick tea, under Brick.

Tile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tiling.] 1. To cover with tiles; as, to tile a house.

2. Fig.: To cover, as if with tiles.

The muscle, sinew, and vein,
Which tile this house, will come again.
Donne.