[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

tally \tal"ly\, n.; pl. tallies. oe. taile, taille, f. taille
   a cutting, cut tally, fr. tailler to cut, but influenced
   probably by taill'e, p. p. of tailler. see tailor, and
   cf. tail a limitation, taille, tallage.
   1. originally, a piece of wood on which notches or scores
      were cut, as the marks of number; later, one of two books,
      sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts
      were kept.
      1913 webster

   note: in purshasing and selling, it was once customary for
         traders to have two sticks, or one stick cleft into two
         parts, and to mark with a score or notch, on each, the
         number or quantity of goods delivered, -- the seller
         keeping one stick, and the purchaser the other. before
         the use of writing, this, or something like it, was the
         only method of keeping accounts; and tallies were
         received as evidence in courts of justice. in the
         english exchequer were tallies of loans, one part being
         kept in the exchequer, the other being given to the
         creditor in lieu of an obligation for money lent to
         government.
         1913 webster

   2. hence, any account or score kept by notches or marks,
      whether on wood or paper, or in a book; especially, one
      kept in duplicate.
      1913 webster

   3. one thing made to suit another; a match; a mate.
      1913 webster

            they were framed the tallies for each other.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   4. a notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make
      or earn a tally in a game.
      1913 webster

   5. a tally shop. see tally shop, below.
      1913 webster

   tally shop, a shop at which goods or articles are sold to
      customers on account, the account being kept in
      corresponding books, one called the tally, kept by the
      buyer, the other the counter tally, kept by the seller,
      and the payments being made weekly or otherwise by
      agreement. the trade thus regulated is called tally trade.
      --eng. encyc.

   to strike tallies, to act in correspondence, or alike.
      obs. --fuller.
      1913 webster
see also:
tallies tailor tail taille tallage tally shop 
to strike tallies 

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