"cloth covering (usually of strong cotton or linen) for mattresses or pillows," 1640s, from tyke (modern tick) with the same meaning (mid-14c.), probably from Middle Dutch tike, from a West Germanic borrowing of Latin theca "case," from Greek theke "a case, box, cover, sheath" (see theco-).
实用例句
1. It keeps you ticking over, stops you being complacent.
这使你进展缓慢，得意不起来。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Very slowly he moved forward, the engine ticking over.
他慢慢往前开，发动机低速运转。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I just think it's rude and it's ticking me off.