Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Teetotum \Tee*to"tum\, n. [For T-totum. It was used for playing
   games of chance, and was four-sided, one side having the
   letter {T} on it, standing for Latin totum all, meaning, take
   all that is staked, whence the name. The other three sides
   each had a letter indicating an English or Latin word; as {P}
   meaning put down, {N} nothing or L. nil, {H} half. See
   {Total}.]
   A child's toy, somewhat resembling a top, and twirled by the
   fingers.

         The staggerings of the gentleman . . . were like those
         of a teetotum nearly spent.              --Dickens.

Source : WordNet®

teetotum
     n : a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on
         which it can be made to spin; "he got a bright red top
         and string for his birthday" [syn: {top}, {whirligig}, {spinning
         top}]