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A metallic binding, tube, or point, at the end of a string, or lace, to stiffen it.

genus Dipsacus, of which one species (D. fullonum) bears a large flower head covered with stiff, prickly, hooked bracts. This flower head, when dried, is used for raising a nap on woolen cloth.

and shows on the other side. Cf. Tooth, Tusk. Tenon saw, a saw with a thin blade, usually stiffened by a brass or steel back, for cutting tenons. [Corruptly written tenant saw.] Gwilt.

Stretched tightly; strained to stiffness; rigid; not lax; as, a tense fiber. The temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a fatal paleness was upon her. Goldsmith. -- Tense"ly, adv. -- Tense"ness, n.

The act of stretching or straining; the state of being stretched or strained to stiffness; the state of being bent strained; as, the tension of the muscles, tension of the larynx.

The quality or state of being tense, or strained to stiffness; tension; tenseness.

Giving the sensation of tension, stiffness, or contraction. A tensive pain from distension of the parts. Floyer.

One of the stiff hairs situated about the mouth, or on the face, of many animals, and supposed to be tactile organs; a tactile hair.

Stiff; stretched; strained. [Obs.] Johnson.

An affection apparently congenital, consisting in tonic contraction and stiffness of the voluntary muscles occurring after a period of muscular inaction.

A heavy blow with something flat or heavy; a thump. With many a stiff thwack, many a bang, Hard crab tree and old iron rang. Hudibras.

A stiff hat. [Colloq.] Dickens. Tile drain, a drain made of tiles. -- Tile earth, a species of strong, clayey earth; stiff and stubborn land. [Prov. Eng.] -- Tile kiln, a kiln in which tiles are burnt; a tilery. -- Tile ore (Min.), an earthy variety of cuprite. -- Tile red, light red like the color of tiles or brick…

A piece of stiffened lining pasted on the inside of a hat crown.

cloth interwoven with gold or silver threads, or embossed with figures. A robe of tissue, stiff with golden wire. Dryden. In their glittering tissues bear emblazed Holy memorials. Milton.

An implement for reducing a stiff soil, resembling a harrow, but running upon wheels. Hebert.

Stiff; rigid; not flexible; stubborn; as, a tough bow. So tough a frame she could not bend. Dryden.

The act of traveling, or journeying from place to place; a journey. With long travel I am stiff and weary. Shak. His travels ended at his country seat. Dryden.

uth. Trencher cap, the cap worn by studens at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, having a stiff, flat, square appendage at top. A similar cap used in the United States is called Oxford cap, mortar board, etc. -- Trencher fly, a person who haunts the tables of others; a parasite. [R.] L'Estrange. -- Trencher friend, o…

To strengthen or stiffen, as a beam or girder, by means of a brace or braces.

The art of stiffening or bracing a set of timbers, or the like, by putting in struts, ties, etc., till it has something of the character of a truss.