☆ a bugle call to put out lights in retiring for the night, as in an army camp: also sounded at a military funeral
Origin:
< tap, because orig. a drum signal
See taps in American Heritage Dictionary 4
plural noun(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
A bugle call or drum signal sounded at night, as at a military camp, as an order to put out lights and also sounded at military funerals and memorial services.