Definition of the word tap for

The phrase "tap for" has its origin in military tradition, specifically in relation to paying homage to fallen soldiers. It dates back to the mid-19th century when soldiers would drink from a communal drinking vessel called a "tot" or "flagon." During this ritual, when a soldier died, the tot would be covered with a cloth, and the remaining soldiers would tap on the decorated cloth with their fingers, symbolic of a tap on a barrel, before drinking as a sign of mourning and respect. This tradition served as a precursor to the modern-day custom of having two silent minutes in memory of deceased soldiers, in which people are encouraged to tap their phones or other objects as a way of remembering and honoring the fallen. Today, the phrase "tap for" is commonly used to introduce a moment of silence at military ceremonies and events, as well as during the playing of the Last Post, a traditional bugle call played to salute the dead in the military.