tots

Tots is a plural noun in English with at least two common meanings. The singular form is tot. In the first sense, tots refers to small children or toddlers and is used informally and affectionately, as in phrases like “cute tots” or “the tots are playing.” This usage is widespread in English-speaking regions and can describe a group of young children of various ages.

In a different sense, tot denotes a small amount of liquor. A “tot” is a small measure, typically served in a short glass. The exact volume is not standardized and varies by country and historical period, but it is commonly around 25 to 30 milliliters in modern practice. The term is often used in phrases such as “a tot of rum.”

Etymology for the two senses appears to be independent. For the child sense, the origin is uncertain, and it is treated as a standard informal noun for a small child. For the drink sense, the word has long been used in English-speaking contexts to describe a small portion of spirits, with the term historically linked to naval or ceremonial rationing in some places.

Cultural notes include the British Royal Navy’s former daily rum ration, commonly called a “tot,” which continued for many years before being retired in 1970. Today, the term persists in casual usage to denote a small pour of alcohol, while the child sense remains a common colloquial term for young children.