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panicle of capsules at the top. The rootstock contains much starch, and has been used in stiffening linen.

A stretching and stiffening of the trunk and extremities, as when fatigued and drowsy.

Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress.

A ridge, fin, or wing, as on a plate, cylinder, beam, etc., to strengthen or stiffen it.

a mammal is heated to about 50ºC. -- Rigor mortis ( Etym: [L. , rigor of death] , death stiffening; the rigidity of the muscles that occurs at death and lasts till decomposition sets in. It is due to the formation of myosin by the coagulation of the contents of the individual muscle fibers.

uch used for making puddings and as an article of diet for the sick; also, as starch, for stiffening textile fabrics. It is prepared from the stems of several East Indian and Malayan palm trees, but chiefly from the Metroxylon Sagu; also from several cycadaceous plants (Cycas revoluta, Zamia integrifolia, atc.). Portla…

An awkward, heavy, clownish fellow. [Colloq.] Slouth hat, a soft, limp hat of unstiffened cloth or felt.

tween the fingers. It is used as a food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc.

Stiffened with starch.

To stiffen. [R.] If horror have not starked your limbs. H. Taylor.

A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men. How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay.

To call, bid, or cite; to notify to come to appear; -- often with up. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. Shak. Trumpets summon him to war. Dryden.

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

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.

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

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.

To swell; to cause to swell, or puff up. To swell, tumefy, stiffen, not the diction only, but the tenor of the thought. De Quincey.

A plate or thin portion, continuous or perforated, connecting stiffening ribs or flanges, or other parts of an object. Specifically: --

nce resembling horn, taken from the upper jaw of the right whale; baleen. It is used as a stiffening in stays, fans, screens, and for various other purposes. See Baleen.