There's a big ticker tape parade for the U.S. women's soccer team. But Americans have no idea what ticker tape is.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By Jeva Lange

published 10 July 2015

To wit:

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For the record: Ticker tape was once used to print out stock prices and other communication that was transmitted via telegraph lines. Ticker tape was in use for about a century, and was mostly phased out in the '70s. A narrow strip of paper would run through a stock ticker, and abbreviated company names and stock transactions would be printed on it. Ticker tape was kind of confetti-like, so it was fun to throw at princesses.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.