path vs tack

path

noun
  • A method or direction of proceeding. 

  • A slot available for allocation to a railway train over a given route in between other trains. 

  • Pathology. 

  • A sequence of vertices from one vertex to another using the arcs (edges). A path does not visit the same vertex more than once (unless it is a closed path, where only the first and the last vertex are the same). 

  • A metaphorical course or route; progress. 

  • A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians. 

  • A continuous map f from the unit interval I=[0,1] to a topological space X. 

  • A course taken. 

  • A Pagan tradition, for example witchcraft, Wicca, druidism, Heathenry. 

  • A human-readable specification for a location within a hierarchical or tree-like structure, such as a file system or as part of a URL. 

verb
  • To navigate through a file system directory tree (to a desired file or folder). 

  • To make a path in, or on (something), or for (someone). 

tack

noun
  • A direction or course of action, especially a new one. 

  • The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board. 

  • A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom. 

  • Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. 

  • The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other. 

  • A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease. 

  • The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties. 

  • That which is tacky; something cheap and gaudy. 

  • A small nail with a flat head. 

  • A stain; a tache. 

  • That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix. 

  • A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind. 

  • Food generally; fare, especially of the bread kind. 

  • A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth. 

  • A thumbtack. 

  • The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind. 

verb
  • To nail with a tack (small nail with a flat head). 

  • To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other. 

  • To add something as an extra item. 

  • To sew/stitch with a tack (loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth). 

  • to tack (something) onto (something) 

  • To place the tack on a horse; often paired with "up". 

How often have the words path and tack occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )