[The origin of senses 2 and 3 is obscure: possibly they do not belong here.]
I. 1. The name of the letter T; also applied to objects having the form of this (Ｔ or [symbol]). See also T (the letter) 2.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, IV. v. (1611), 199. He beareth Argent, a cheveron betweene three Text Tees, sable.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Tee, a T-shaped pipe-coupling.
1882. Worc. Exhib. Catal., iii. 5. Connections, elbows, tees, syphons.
1891. Times, 28 Sept., 3/6. The demand for angles and tees is quiet, but bridge and roofing makers are taking fair lots.
II. 2. Sc. (See quot. 1882.)
1494–5. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 228. To mak knoppis and fassis to the harnysing of briddillis and teis, xxxij pirnis of gold. Ibid. (1505), III. 160. For ane courpale and tee … xs.
1675. Cunningham, Diary, 27 July (1887), 56. Sent to Glasgow for a new Curpell and Tee.
1776. R. Ferguson, in Whitelaw, Bk. Scot. Song (1875), 100. With … hat, and a feather, And housing at curpen and tee.
1882. Jamieson’s Dict., Tee. Pl. tees, teis, iron holdfasts, in shape like the letter T, suspended from a horse’s collar for attachment to the shafts of a vehicle, or for connecting the bit and bridle; also, the ropes by which a sailyard is suspended.
3. Mining. (See quot. 1851.)
1653. Manlove, Lead Mines, 266. Fell, Bous, and Knock-barke, Forstid-oar, and Tees.
1747. Hooson, Miner’s Dict., S ij. After crossing of Pees, Tees, Braks, Jumbles, or what other disorder may happen that the Vein cannot be easily made out.
1851. Tapping, Gloss. Lead-mining Terms, Tee, or Tye, is where a cross vein approaches another vein at nearly right angles, whose side it joins without intersecting or breaking through it.
III. 4. attrib. Shaped like a Ｔ, having a cross-piece at the top or end, as tee-frame, -iron, -joint, -piece, -square; also in other combs., as tee-headed, -shaped adjs. See also T (the letter) 3.
1819. Peckston, Gas-Lighting, 300. Wrought-iron tee-pieces for branching off from the principal service-pipe in two directions.
1822. Imison, Sc. & Art, II. 344. Tee-squares are rulers made in the form of the letter T.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Tee-iron, a rod with a cross-bar at the end, for withdrawing the lower, valve-box of a pump.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., p. liii/2. Fire and Thief-resisting Sales … solid tee frame, and solid flange lock case.
1887. D. A. Low, Machine Draw. (1892), 18. At (c) is shown a tee-headed bolt.
1904. Daily Chron., 4 May, 3/2. Tee-shaped and substantially built, the new pier … has a frontage of 650 ft.
