[In sense 1, app. f. TAPER sb.1; in other senses, app. from the vb. or adj.]
I. 1. A spire or slender pyramid; a figure which tapers up to a point.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. xi. (Arb.), 108. Of the Spire or Taper called Pyramis. The Taper is the longest and sharpest triangle that is, and while he mounts vpward he waxeth continually more slender, taking both his figure and name of the fire, whose flame … is alwaies pointed.
II. 2. Gradual diminution in width or thickness in an elongated object; continuous decrease in one direction; fig. gradual decrease of action, power, capacity, etc.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 81. From thence its taper diminishing more slow, its sides by degrees come into a perpendicular. Ibid., § 303. Iron plugs … upon a very gentle taper.
1840. J. Buel, Farmer’s Comp., 145. They should be square, with a gradual taper to the point.
1875. R. F. Martin, trans. Havrez’ Winding Mach. 22. To try and manufacture steel ropes with a continuous taper.
3. Anything that gradually diminishes in size towards one extremity, as a tapered tube.
1882. Worc. Exhib. Catal., iii. 16. Sanitary tubes, bends, junctions, tapers, sluice valves.
4. Comb., as taper-vice, a vice adapted to hold objects which have not parallel sides.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2495. Taper-vise.
