taut 
(tôt)
(tôt)adj. taut·er, taut·est
1.
a. Pulled or drawn tight; not slack. See Synonyms at tight.
b. Flexed or not loose: taut muscles.
c. Strained or tense: taut nerves.
2.
a. Kept in good order; trim: a taut ship.
b. Marked by the efficient, sparing, or concise use of something, such as language or detail: a taut movie script.
[Middle English tohte, distended, perhaps ultimately from Old English togian, to drag; see TOW1.]
tautly adv.
tautness n.