tautadj.

Brit.

/tɔːt/, U.S.

/tɔt/,

/tɑt/

Forms:

α. Middle English toght, Middle English toȝt, Middle English toȝte, Middle English tohte, Middle English toth, Middle English touȝe (perhaps transmission error), Middle English touȝt, Middle English touht, Middle English tout, Middle English towehte, Middle English towght, Middle English towht, Middle English towt, Middle English 1600s toft, Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional (East Anglian)) tought; N.E.D. (1910) also records a form Middle English towte.

β. 1600s– taught (now nonstandard); also Scottish 1800s taght, 1800s– tacht.

γ. 1600s–1800s tort, 1700s– tote (English regional (south-western)).

δ. 1600s– taut.

Origin: Probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: tough adj.

Etymology: Probably a specific semantic development of tough adj. (compare the γ. forms at tough adj. and n., although these are first attested slightly later), perhaps influenced semantically by association with tee v.¹ (especially its past participle; compare forms at that entry). Perhaps compare also thight adj., tight adj.The form history reflects the merger in /ɔː/ of the reflexes of Middle English /ox/ and /ax/ before t in early modern English (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §240); compare e.g. the formal variation at e.g. daughter n. and aught pron., and see further discussion at nought pron.

I. Senses relating to things being stretched or pulled tight.

1. Characterized by tension, anxiety, or stress; tense, strained, not relaxed.The interpretation of quot. c1275 is uncertain; if, as seems likely, the meaning of þe tohte ilete is approximately ‘the strained expression’, then this use probably shows an extended use of sense 2, although attested earlier.In later use, an extended or figurative use of sense 4a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > tension > [adjective]

tautc1275

rigid?a1425

high-strung1653

wound-up1788

stretched1799

high-toned1804

overstrung1810

intense1817

tense1821

high-tuned1827

screwed-up1829

twittery1840

high-keyed1848

strung-up1853

strained1863

tensioned1872

twitchy1874

keyed-up1885

tensed1911

uptight1934

wired1970

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 1446 Ne mai ich for reoþe lete Wanne ich iseo þe tohte ilete.

1798 W. Cathcart Let. 26 Aug. in Naval Misc. (1902) I. 274 There has been a taut action between Admiral Nelson and the French.

1839 H. de la Pasture Real Pearls in False Setting III. v. 212 Sir Walter knew the hand-writing; and anticipating a tickler, screwed his nerves up taut.

1894 B. M. Emmet in J. M. Keating & H. C. Coe Clin. Gynæcol. (1897) iii. 190 In standing, these muscles relax; in walking, they become taut.

1921 J. Dos Passos Three Soldiers vi. iii. 398 ‘What you laughin' at?’ went on Al in an eager taut voice.

1936 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 186 28/2 The taut situation in Western Europe is the result of this fear upon the part of France.

1987 G. Tindall To City (1989) vi. 141 I am waiting for something, nerves taut.

1997 S. Curtis & T. Curtis in J. Feather When you Wish 185 George's voice was taut with frustration.

2011 Time Out N.Y. 10 Feb. 90/1 Derek Smith, his body taut with ferocious intent.

2. Distended; inflated; crammed full; spec. fat and bloated. Now English regional (south-western) and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > [adjective] > distending > distended

tautc1330

distent?1606

outstretcheda1616

distended1697

stent1789

stodgy1860

bestented-

the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > taut > specifically of surface

tautc1330

c1330 in T. Wright Polit. Songs Eng. (1839) 334 The best he piketh up himself, and maketh his mawe touht.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 4390 Þat ech of hem ne drof forþ on, With pakkes y-charged euerechon, Wyþ harneys y-fillid toȝte.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xi. xiii. 591 A bleddir..makeþ greet noyse and soune ȝif it be towht iblowe and þanne ibroke.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 559 Thanne shal this cherl with baly stif and toght As any tabour hider been ybroght.

c1450 Erthe upon Erthe (Cambr.) (1911) 32 Erthe goos on erth & tyllys with hys plowe, Erthe a-geyn erth holdys it full toght.

a1550 in R. Dyboski Songs, Carols & Other Misc. Poems (1908) 118 Your brest is so towght, Tyll ye haue well cowght.

1777–8 R. Wight Horæ Subsecivæ (MS Bodl. Eng. lang. d.66) 436 [Gloucs.] As tote as a tike or tick.

1890 J. D. Robertson Gloss. Words County of Gloucester Tort, large and fat.

3. Of the body, muscles, etc.: firm; not flaccid or flabby. Also of a person: having a firm, lean body.In modern use an extension of sense 4a, and often overlapping with that sense (cf., e.g., quots. 1876, 1878).

ΚΠ

c1400 Life St. Alexius (Trin. Oxf.) (1878) l. 116 (MED) Þo he was in-to boure y-broȝt, He by-held þat may swaþel and toȝt Of briȝte hywe.

a1500 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 144 (MED) Hyr feyngerys bytt long and small, Hyr harmus byth rown & toth.

1876 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 15 July 462/2 The taut muscles of his arm and stifle were as hard and rigid to the touch as a ship's cable.

1878 H. M. Stanley Through Dark Continent I. xvii. 456 Their rounded bodies were as taut as a drumhead.

1938 Fortune Sept. 110/1 Bill is a quick, taut young man with reddish hair.

1961 P. Marshall Soul clap Hands & Sing (1962) 69 He had been handsome then, with a taut athlete's body.

2007 S. Hunter Talking in your Sleep xi. 178 She slid her hand down between his taut thighs and rested it against the ridge in his jeans.

a. Stretched or pulled tight; not slack or loose. In early use chiefly in nautical contexts with reference to rigging or sails.The usual sense from the 17th cent.In examples referring to a surface which has been stretched out, there can be overlap or merger with senses 2 and 3; for example, comparison with a drum skin is found in all of these senses (cf. quot. 1612 at α. with quots. c1405 at sense 2 and 1878 at sense 3).

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > taut

stiffc1386

unrelaxed1508

taut1567

tight1576

strait1578

strict1578

starka1642

tense1671

stith1825

strict1860

stent1886

α.

1567 G. Turberville tr. G. B. Spagnoli Eglogs viii. f. 81 When that Phoebus flees the Bow whose string is bent so tought.

1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 28 They haue a great deepe platter of wood. They couer the mouth thereof with a skin, at each corner they tie a walnut,..with a small rope they twitch them togither till it be so tought and stiffe, that they may beat vpon it as vpon a drumme.

1631 Orders & Articles 7 May in L. Foxe North-west Fox (1635) 232 Shee by casting vp her head, may stretch her skinne tought at her breast, wherein the launce will enter with more facilitie.

1644 R. Polter Path-way to Perfect Sayling 45 Some are desirous to have there stayes and shrowds slacked, and some to have them set tought.

1731 J. Lewis Hist. Eng. Transl. of Bible in New Test. 94 This done, all hands aloft they frapp'd the ship—tought with her cables, and for fear of striking upon the sands.

a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Taught, tought, tight.

β. a1625 H. Mainwaring Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. 2301) We saie sett taught ye shrowdes y^e staies or anie other Roape when it is to slack.1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ix. 42 Cast of that Boling..and hale vp taught the other.1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 18 Hawl them taught and belaye them.1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 111 To set taught the Standing Rigging.1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §259 We..fixed our great tackle to it..and hove all taught.1818 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (ed. 2) 55 Ilk tendon, taght like thairm, was lac'd.1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xi. 174 The yards carefully squared, and the ropes hauled taught.1948 Trans. & Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 79 48 When the lines were drawn taught the sail was relatively flat.1997 M. L. Frankel Cruising Gulags 175 Its telephone system..is marginally better than two tomato cans separated by a taught string.γ. 1686 J. Moyle Abstr. Chirurgiæ Marinæ ii. i. 25 Let your assistant draw up the Muscles as tort as possible, and let him that holds the other part do the like.a1687 W. Petty Treat. Naval Philos. i. ii, in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions (1691) 126 Setting of the Shrowds loose or tort as the Condition of Sailing of the Vessel requires.1791 J. H. Moore Pract. Navigator (ed. 9) 263 Lines.., which being hauled tort, enables the Ship to come nearer to the Wind.1806 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. 4 773 Tort and smooth threads of flax and hemp.1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 125 Yet holds he them with tortest rein.δ. 1691 Smith's Sea-mans Gram. & Dict. (new ed.) v. 19 Shrowds, either to slacken them or set them taut.1796 Nelson in R. Southey Life Nelson (1813) II. vi. 1 My complaint is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast.1833 Amer. Monthly Mag. Aug. 352 They can..mend sails, make rope, cut out trowsers as ‘taut as the skin of a furled foresail’, and cover hats with tarpaulin.1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxvii. 296 The land-breeze set in, which brought us upon a taught [1868 taut] bowline.1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island v. xxiii. 185 The hawser was as taut as a bowstring.1932 R. Niebuhr Moral Man & Immoral Society iii. 71 Religion draws the bow of life so taut that it either snaps the string (defeatism) or overshoots the mark (fanaticism and asceticism).1944 R. Matheson Entomol. for Introd. Courses iii. 78 The ‘ear’ consists of a taut membrane provided with a muscle and with special organs..which are believed to be able to recognize sounds.1986 B. Fussell I hear Amer. Cooking IV. xvii. 310 Traditionalists..claim that Boston brown bread must not be cut with a knife but with a taut string.2003 Independent 1 July 14/3 In her final performances, her taut skin and famously high cheekbones had started to lend her facial features the appearance of death's-head.

b. Of wind: strong enough to stretch a ship's sails and rigging tight; stiff.

ΚΠ

1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 15 About half an Hour past 6 in the Evening the third Day, came on a taut Squall of Wind and Rain which split my Main-sail at the Head.

1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 221 Many a taught gale of wind has honest Tom Bowling and I weathered together.

1870 H. Newton & D. J. Noyes (Assignees) v. D. Lyon: Case on Appeal (N.Y. Court of Appeals) 6 She was coming at a good gait; there was a good taut wind blowing.

1976 N. S. Momaday Names ii. 67 There is a taut wind at the windows, and winter is coming on.

II. Senses relating to control or good order.

5. Originally and chiefly Nautical.

a. Of a ship's officer: strictly or severely enforcing discipline; disciplinarian. Frequently in taut hand.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > specifically of persons

strait1297

iron-handed1608

strict1614

Presbyteriana1653

taut1825

1825 M. E. Barker Greenwich Hosp. in London Lit. Gaz. 1 Jan. 12/2 Mayhap the Commodore down yonder has had some hand in this, for he was a taut hand upon rum spirits.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xii. 152 He was considered to be the taughtest (that is, the most active and severe) boatswain in the service.

1851 W. H. G. Kingston Pirate Medit. (1860) 4 What sort of a chap is our skipper? He looks like a taut hand.

1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin iii. 43 The first lieutenant appeared from one of the after-hatches. He had the reputation of being a ‘taut hand’.

1995 D. Lambdin H.M.S. Cockerel (2009) 255 And the man who forgets that, the man who acts like this is a lark, the one who doesn't believe I'm a taut hand, well..God help his soul.

b. Of a ship: smartly turned out, with a well-disciplined and efficient crew. Also of a naval rating: well-disciplined and smart (chiefly in taut hand). Now frequently figurative, chiefly in to run a taut ship (cf. tight ship n. at ship n.¹ Additions).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim

netc1330

pertc1330

cleanc1386

nicec1400

picked?c1425

dapperc1440

feata1471

gim1513

trig1513

well-trimmedc1513

trick1533

smirk1534

tricksy1552

neat1559

netty1573

deft1579

primpc1590

briska1593

smug1598

spruce1598

sprink1602

terse1602

compt1632

nitle1673

sprig1675

snod1691

tight1697

smugged1706

snug1714

pensy1718

fitty1746

jemmy1751

sprucy1774

smartc1778

natty1785

spry1806

perjink1808

soigné1821

nutty1823

toiletted1823

taut1829

spick and span1846

spicy1846

groomed1853

spiffy1853

well-groomed1865

bandboxy1870

perjinkity1880

spick-span1888

bandbox1916

tiddly1925

whip-smart1937

spit and polish1950

spit-and-polished1977

1829 D. Jerrold Black-ey'd Susan iii. ii. 43 The trimmest sailor as ever handled rope..give me taut Bill before any able seaman in his Majesty's fleet.

1847 Hogg's Weekly Instructor 16 Oct. 117/2 I grant that there is a beauty which bewilders and captivates the imagination of youth in a proud and taut ship, with her running gear and rigging all a tanto.

1871 J. G. Whittier Sisters xii In the tautest schooner that ever swam He rides at anchor in Annisquam.

1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 138 Taut Hand, a first-class working rating who is the direct opposite to a Bird [sc. a troublesome sailor].

1974 Progress (Easley, S. Carolina) 24 Apr. 2/2 His language was salty and he ran a taut ship. He demanded discipline, accuracy, integrity and honesty, as well as good writing.

2011 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 6 Mar. b1 My primary focus will be on job creation followed closely by making sure we're running a taut ship.

c. gen. Neatly or smartly turned out or presented; (later more usually) orderly and efficient.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > [adjective] > tidy

queemc1450

trig1513

trimc1521

neat1594

polite1602

terse1602

unlittered1612

ship-shape1644

snod1717

tight1720

redd1753

(as) neat (also clean) as a (new) pin1769

mack1825

tidy1828

slick1833

ship-shapely1843

trimly1858

taut1870

1870 Daily News 1 Dec. 5/5 Shops ran up shutters, everything was made taut.

1881 Scribner's Monthly 21 271/1 [She appeared] in Miss B——'s shop, taut and trim.

1966 Flying Mag. Nov. 61/2 He would rather be out in a gunship leading a strike but he still finds time to run a taut ground operation.

2010 R. N. Patterson Name of Honour iii. i. 172 While the colonel ran a taut courtroom, by reputation he had an open mind.

6. Of music, writing, etc.: concise and controlled.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > shrill or forced

shrillc1386

shirl1418

straineda1542

treble1550

efforced1590

shrilly1594

minikin1602

stridulous1646

feigned1664

extended1699

pipy1769

falsetto1826

screechy1834

stridulent1874

roofy1897

taut1916

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adjective]

compendious1388

briefc1430

short1487

short and sweet1545

curted1568

summarc1575

laconical1576

summary1582

succinct1585

totala1586

laconic1589

concisec1590

compendiary1609

press?1611

curt1631

Spartan1644

nutshell1647

severe1680

Lacedaemonian1780

straightforward1806

uncircumlocutory1808

shorthand1822

Spartanlike1838

unwordy1841

nutshelly1843

tight1870

Spartanic1882

unfarced1890

serried1899

taut1916

1916 D. Figgis Æ ii. 28 One wonders if they had bothered to read Thompson's fiery page of metaphors or had turned down Crashaw's taut music from its slumber on the shelves.

1930 Musical Times Nov. 995/2 The five operatic choruses by Handel are crisp and taut music on paper.

1932 J. Drinkwater Discovery xxxi. 149 A commercial traveller..absorbed in the taut dialogue of one of Galsworthy's social scenes.

1972 Observer 16 Apr. 33/6 A short, taut, yet circumstantially detailed account.

1992 Rolling Stone 10 Dec. 174/2 Finger picking an acoustic guitar, sampling fleet beats and pulling taut choruses out of thin air.

2008 Hollywood Reporter 18–20 Jan. 16 This taut, savvy cyber-thriller makes for one of the better Net flicks.

Phrases

† to make it taut: to make an agreement firm or binding. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > [adjective] > fixed, settled

to make it tautc1325

certain1393

assured1430

suredc1450

ascertaineda1513

ratified1533

testified1552

assecurit?1553

affirmed1568

settled1578

sure1582

fastened1596

secured1600

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 10498 (MED) Þe king glosede her & þer & made it somdel touȝt, Ac þo it com to þe strengþe, he nolde it graunti nouȝt.

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 522 ‘Gos into my vyne, dotȝ þat ȝe conne’; So sayde þe lorde, and made hit toȝt.

Compounds

C1.

a. Adverbial with past participles, as taut-rigged, taut-stretched, etc.

ΚΠ

1803 in Naval Documents U.S. Wars Barbary Powers (1940) II. 404 Being taught Stowed between two fat fellows, I slep[t].

1829 D. Jerrold Black-ey'd Susan i. i. 15 There's not so fine, so noble, so taut-rigged a fellow in His Majesty's navy.

1862 C. P. Smyth Three Cities in Russia II. iv. vii. 511 The large American frigate..filled half the panorama before us with its display of taut-pulled roping.

1908 H. M. Sylvester Olde Pemaquid (1909) 139 The faint halloo of two sailors leaning over the rail of a taut-rigged schooner.

1943 D. Gascoyne Poems 1937–42 42 The sky's a faded blue and taut-stretched flag Tenting the quadrangle.

2001 Harper's Mag. Jan. 39/1 Pressure on the neck, and from the downward force of the bridge feet beneath the taut-stretched strings, had forced the f-holes into less than perfect symmetry.

b. Parasynthetic, as taut-faced, taut-necked, taut-skinned, etc.

ΚΠ

1826 S. Stutchbury Jrnl. 4 Mar. in Sci. in Sea of Commerce (1996) 79 It appears to me a great oversight that this taut masted Ship should be sent to Sea without a conductor.

1901 T. A. Coghlan Picturesque New S. Wales 50 They look very tempting, those cool, swollen, taut-skinned berries.

1948 L. MacNeice Holes in Sky 31 The taut-necked donkey's..lamenting.

1998 K. Lette Altar Ego xviii. 165 She bee-lined for the taut-bunned waiter behind the bar.

2004 Seattle Times (Nexis) 12 Sept. k1 You're a sleek-bodied, taut-faced, full-lipped honey.

C2.

taut-ship adj. originally and chiefly Nautical strict, severe, disciplinarian; cf. sense 5.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > disciplinarian

disciplinary1599

disciplinarian1640

martinet1814

martinetish1852

regimental1919

taut-ship1941

1941 Time 29 Dec. 8/1 The promoted admirals were ‘taut ship’ commanders (meaning rigid disciplinarians, as opposed to ‘happy ship’ officers).

1970 H. Waugh Finish me Off 106 Yesterday she had been haughty and taut-ship, but today..Mrs. Hardell's position had suddenly become tenuous.

1977 Navy News July 20 All the taut-ship zeal for a tip-top navy, which gave Whale Island its fame as one of the best-known of service establishments, has been redirected.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	taut
释义	tautn. Brit. /tɔːt/, U.S. /tɔt/, /tɑt/, Scottish English /tɔt/, Irish English /tɒːt/ Forms: Scottish 1800s tawt, 1800s– taut; Irish English (northern) 1900s– tot. Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: tat n.⁶ Etymology: Variant of tat n.⁶ Compare earlier tauted adj., tauty adj. Scottish and Irish English (northern). = tat n.⁶ ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [noun] > tangled elf-lock1596 snarl1609 feltering1615 elf-knot1825 tat1887 taut1887 kitchen1964 natty dread1974 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > entanglement or entangled state > [noun] > that which is entangled > a tangle node1572 knarl1598 snarl1609 rivel1625 ravel1634 snick-snarl1649 mare1688 harla1697 tangle1757 round turn1769 fankle1824 twist1858 twitter1876 taut1887 1887 D. Donaldson Jamieson's Sc. Dict. Suppl. Tat, taut, tawt, a tangle, matted tuft or lock of wool or hair. 1977 J. Y. Mather & H. H. Speitel Ling. Atlas Scotl. II. 138 A tangle (of knitting wool, etc.), [Ayrshire] taut. 1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 349/2 Tat, tit, tot, a tangle in hair; a tuft of matted hair or wool. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022). tautadj. Brit. /tɔːt/, U.S. /tɔt/, /tɑt/ Forms: α. Middle English toght, Middle English toȝt, Middle English toȝte, Middle English tohte, Middle English toth, Middle English touȝe (perhaps transmission error), Middle English touȝt, Middle English touht, Middle English tout, Middle English towehte, Middle English towght, Middle English towht, Middle English towt, Middle English 1600s toft, Middle English–1700s (1800s English regional (East Anglian)) tought; N.E.D. (1910) also records a form Middle English towte. β. 1600s– taught (now nonstandard); also Scottish 1800s taght, 1800s– tacht. γ. 1600s–1800s tort, 1700s– tote (English regional (south-western)). δ. 1600s– taut. Origin: Probably a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: tough adj. Etymology: Probably a specific semantic development of tough adj. (compare the γ. forms at tough adj. and n., although these are first attested slightly later), perhaps influenced semantically by association with tee v.¹ (especially its past participle; compare forms at that entry). Perhaps compare also thight adj., tight adj.The form history reflects the merger in /ɔː/ of the reflexes of Middle English /ox/ and /ax/ before t in early modern English (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §240); compare e.g. the formal variation at e.g. daughter n. and aught pron., and see further discussion at nought pron. I. Senses relating to things being stretched or pulled tight. 1. Characterized by tension, anxiety, or stress; tense, strained, not relaxed.The interpretation of quot. c1275 is uncertain; if, as seems likely, the meaning of þe tohte ilete is approximately ‘the strained expression’, then this use probably shows an extended use of sense 2, although attested earlier.In later use, an extended or figurative use of sense 4a. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > tension > [adjective] tautc1275 rigid?a1425 high-strung1653 wound-up1788 stretched1799 high-toned1804 overstrung1810 intense1817 tense1821 high-tuned1827 screwed-up1829 twittery1840 high-keyed1848 strung-up1853 strained1863 tensioned1872 twitchy1874 keyed-up1885 tensed1911 uptight1934 wired1970 c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 1446 Ne mai ich for reoþe lete Wanne ich iseo þe tohte ilete. 1798 W. Cathcart Let. 26 Aug. in Naval Misc. (1902) I. 274 There has been a taut action between Admiral Nelson and the French. 1839 H. de la Pasture Real Pearls in False Setting III. v. 212 Sir Walter knew the hand-writing; and anticipating a tickler, screwed his nerves up taut. 1894 B. M. Emmet in J. M. Keating & H. C. Coe Clin. Gynæcol. (1897) iii. 190 In standing, these muscles relax; in walking, they become taut. 1921 J. Dos Passos Three Soldiers vi. iii. 398 ‘What you laughin' at?’ went on Al in an eager taut voice. 1936 Ann. Amer. Acad. Polit. & Social Sci. 186 28/2 The taut situation in Western Europe is the result of this fear upon the part of France. 1987 G. Tindall To City (1989) vi. 141 I am waiting for something, nerves taut. 1997 S. Curtis & T. Curtis in J. Feather When you Wish 185 George's voice was taut with frustration. 2011 Time Out N.Y. 10 Feb. 90/1 Derek Smith, his body taut with ferocious intent. 2. Distended; inflated; crammed full; spec. fat and bloated. Now English regional (south-western) and rare. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > [adjective] > distending > distended tautc1330 distent?1606 outstretcheda1616 distended1697 stent1789 stodgy1860 bestented- the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > taut > specifically of surface tautc1330 c1330 in T. Wright Polit. Songs Eng. (1839) 334 The best he piketh up himself, and maketh his mawe touht. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 4390 Þat ech of hem ne drof forþ on, With pakkes y-charged euerechon, Wyþ harneys y-fillid toȝte. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. xi. xiii. 591 A bleddir..makeþ greet noyse and soune ȝif it be towht iblowe and þanne ibroke. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 559 Thanne shal this cherl with baly stif and toght As any tabour hider been ybroght. c1450 Erthe upon Erthe (Cambr.) (1911) 32 Erthe goos on erth & tyllys with hys plowe, Erthe a-geyn erth holdys it full toght. a1550 in R. Dyboski Songs, Carols & Other Misc. Poems (1908) 118 Your brest is so towght, Tyll ye haue well cowght. 1777–8 R. Wight Horæ Subsecivæ (MS Bodl. Eng. lang. d.66) 436 [Gloucs.] As tote as a tike or tick. 1890 J. D. Robertson Gloss. Words County of Gloucester Tort, large and fat. 3. Of the body, muscles, etc.: firm; not flaccid or flabby. Also of a person: having a firm, lean body.In modern use an extension of sense 4a, and often overlapping with that sense (cf., e.g., quots. 1876, 1878). ΚΠ c1400 Life St. Alexius (Trin. Oxf.) (1878) l. 116 (MED) Þo he was in-to boure y-broȝt, He by-held þat may swaþel and toȝt Of briȝte hywe. a1500 in R. H. Robbins Secular Lyrics 14th & 15th Cent. (1952) 144 (MED) Hyr feyngerys bytt long and small, Hyr harmus byth rown & toth. 1876 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 15 July 462/2 The taut muscles of his arm and stifle were as hard and rigid to the touch as a ship's cable. 1878 H. M. Stanley Through Dark Continent I. xvii. 456 Their rounded bodies were as taut as a drumhead. 1938 Fortune Sept. 110/1 Bill is a quick, taut young man with reddish hair. 1961 P. Marshall Soul clap Hands & Sing (1962) 69 He had been handsome then, with a taut athlete's body. 2007 S. Hunter Talking in your Sleep xi. 178 She slid her hand down between his taut thighs and rested it against the ridge in his jeans. 4. a. Stretched or pulled tight; not slack or loose. In early use chiefly in nautical contexts with reference to rigging or sails.The usual sense from the 17th cent.In examples referring to a surface which has been stretched out, there can be overlap or merger with senses 2 and 3; for example, comparison with a drum skin is found in all of these senses (cf. quot. 1612 at α. with quots. c1405 at sense 2 and 1878 at sense 3). ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > hardness > types of hardness > [adjective] > taut stiffc1386 unrelaxed1508 taut1567 tight1576 strait1578 strict1578 starka1642 tense1671 stith1825 strict1860 stent1886 α. 1567 G. Turberville tr. G. B. Spagnoli Eglogs viii. f. 81 When that Phoebus flees the Bow whose string is bent so tought. 1612 J. Smith Map of Virginia 28 They haue a great deepe platter of wood. They couer the mouth thereof with a skin, at each corner they tie a walnut,..with a small rope they twitch them togither till it be so tought and stiffe, that they may beat vpon it as vpon a drumme. 1631 Orders & Articles 7 May in L. Foxe North-west Fox (1635) 232 Shee by casting vp her head, may stretch her skinne tought at her breast, wherein the launce will enter with more facilitie. 1644 R. Polter Path-way to Perfect Sayling 45 Some are desirous to have there stayes and shrowds slacked, and some to have them set tought. 1731 J. Lewis Hist. Eng. Transl. of Bible in New Test. 94 This done, all hands aloft they frapp'd the ship—tought with her cables, and for fear of striking upon the sands. a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Taught, tought, tight. β. a1625 H. Mainwaring Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. 2301) We saie sett taught ye shrowdes y^e staies or anie other Roape when it is to slack.1627 J. Smith Sea Gram. ix. 42 Cast of that Boling..and hale vp taught the other.1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 18 Hawl them taught and belaye them.1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 111 To set taught the Standing Rigging.1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §259 We..fixed our great tackle to it..and hove all taught.1818 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (ed. 2) 55 Ilk tendon, taght like thairm, was lac'd.1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. xi. 174 The yards carefully squared, and the ropes hauled taught.1948 Trans. & Proc. Amer. Philol. Assoc. 79 48 When the lines were drawn taught the sail was relatively flat.1997 M. L. Frankel Cruising Gulags 175 Its telephone system..is marginally better than two tomato cans separated by a taught string.γ. 1686 J. Moyle Abstr. Chirurgiæ Marinæ ii. i. 25 Let your assistant draw up the Muscles as tort as possible, and let him that holds the other part do the like.a1687 W. Petty Treat. Naval Philos. i. ii, in T. Hale Acct. New Inventions (1691) 126 Setting of the Shrowds loose or tort as the Condition of Sailing of the Vessel requires.1791 J. H. Moore Pract. Navigator (ed. 9) 263 Lines.., which being hauled tort, enables the Ship to come nearer to the Wind.1806 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. 4 773 Tort and smooth threads of flax and hemp.1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 125 Yet holds he them with tortest rein.δ. 1691 Smith's Sea-mans Gram. & Dict. (new ed.) v. 19 Shrowds, either to slacken them or set them taut.1796 Nelson in R. Southey Life Nelson (1813) II. vi. 1 My complaint is as if a girth were buckled taut over my breast.1833 Amer. Monthly Mag. Aug. 352 They can..mend sails, make rope, cut out trowsers as ‘taut as the skin of a furled foresail’, and cover hats with tarpaulin.1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxvii. 296 The land-breeze set in, which brought us upon a taught [1868 taut] bowline.1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island v. xxiii. 185 The hawser was as taut as a bowstring.1932 R. Niebuhr Moral Man & Immoral Society iii. 71 Religion draws the bow of life so taut that it either snaps the string (defeatism) or overshoots the mark (fanaticism and asceticism).1944 R. Matheson Entomol. for Introd. Courses iii. 78 The ‘ear’ consists of a taut membrane provided with a muscle and with special organs..which are believed to be able to recognize sounds.1986 B. Fussell I hear Amer. Cooking IV. xvii. 310 Traditionalists..claim that Boston brown bread must not be cut with a knife but with a taut string.2003 Independent 1 July 14/3 In her final performances, her taut skin and famously high cheekbones had started to lend her facial features the appearance of death's-head. b. Of wind: strong enough to stretch a ship's sails and rigging tight; stiff. ΚΠ 1726 Four Years Voy. Capt. G. Roberts 15 About half an Hour past 6 in the Evening the third Day, came on a taut Squall of Wind and Rain which split my Main-sail at the Head. 1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 221 Many a taught gale of wind has honest Tom Bowling and I weathered together. 1870 H. Newton & D. J. Noyes (Assignees) v. D. Lyon: Case on Appeal (N.Y. Court of Appeals) 6 She was coming at a good gait; there was a good taut wind blowing. 1976 N. S. Momaday Names ii. 67 There is a taut wind at the windows, and winter is coming on. II. Senses relating to control or good order. 5. Originally and chiefly Nautical. a. Of a ship's officer: strictly or severely enforcing discipline; disciplinarian. Frequently in taut hand. ΘΚΠ society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > specifically of persons strait1297 iron-handed1608 strict1614 Presbyteriana1653 taut1825 1825 M. E. Barker Greenwich Hosp. in London Lit. Gaz. 1 Jan. 12/2 Mayhap the Commodore down yonder has had some hand in this, for he was a taut hand upon rum spirits. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xii. 152 He was considered to be the taughtest (that is, the most active and severe) boatswain in the service. 1851 W. H. G. Kingston Pirate Medit. (1860) 4 What sort of a chap is our skipper? He looks like a taut hand. 1916 ‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin iii. 43 The first lieutenant appeared from one of the after-hatches. He had the reputation of being a ‘taut hand’. 1995 D. Lambdin H.M.S. Cockerel (2009) 255 And the man who forgets that, the man who acts like this is a lark, the one who doesn't believe I'm a taut hand, well..God help his soul. b. Of a ship: smartly turned out, with a well-disciplined and efficient crew. Also of a naval rating: well-disciplined and smart (chiefly in taut hand). Now frequently figurative, chiefly in to run a taut ship (cf. tight ship n. at ship n.¹ Additions). ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim netc1330 pertc1330 cleanc1386 nicec1400 picked?c1425 dapperc1440 feata1471 gim1513 trig1513 well-trimmedc1513 trick1533 smirk1534 tricksy1552 neat1559 netty1573 deft1579 primpc1590 briska1593 smug1598 spruce1598 sprink1602 terse1602 compt1632 nitle1673 sprig1675 snod1691 tight1697 smugged1706 snug1714 pensy1718 fitty1746 jemmy1751 sprucy1774 smartc1778 natty1785 spry1806 perjink1808 soigné1821 nutty1823 toiletted1823 taut1829 spick and span1846 spicy1846 groomed1853 spiffy1853 well-groomed1865 bandboxy1870 perjinkity1880 spick-span1888 bandbox1916 tiddly1925 whip-smart1937 spit and polish1950 spit-and-polished1977 1829 D. Jerrold Black-ey'd Susan iii. ii. 43 The trimmest sailor as ever handled rope..give me taut Bill before any able seaman in his Majesty's fleet. 1847 Hogg's Weekly Instructor 16 Oct. 117/2 I grant that there is a beauty which bewilders and captivates the imagination of youth in a proud and taut ship, with her running gear and rigging all a tanto. 1871 J. G. Whittier Sisters xii In the tautest schooner that ever swam He rides at anchor in Annisquam. 1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 138 Taut Hand, a first-class working rating who is the direct opposite to a Bird [sc. a troublesome sailor]. 1974 Progress (Easley, S. Carolina) 24 Apr. 2/2 His language was salty and he ran a taut ship. He demanded discipline, accuracy, integrity and honesty, as well as good writing. 2011 Florida Times-Union (Nexis) 6 Mar. b1 My primary focus will be on job creation followed closely by making sure we're running a taut ship. c. gen. Neatly or smartly turned out or presented; (later more usually) orderly and efficient. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > [adjective] > tidy queemc1450 trig1513 trimc1521 neat1594 polite1602 terse1602 unlittered1612 ship-shape1644 snod1717 tight1720 redd1753 (as) neat (also clean) as a (new) pin1769 mack1825 tidy1828 slick1833 ship-shapely1843 trimly1858 taut1870 1870 Daily News 1 Dec. 5/5 Shops ran up shutters, everything was made taut. 1881 Scribner's Monthly 21 271/1 [She appeared] in Miss B——'s shop, taut and trim. 1966 Flying Mag. Nov. 61/2 He would rather be out in a gunship leading a strike but he still finds time to run a taut ground operation. 2010 R. N. Patterson Name of Honour iii. i. 172 While the colonel ran a taut courtroom, by reputation he had an open mind. 6. Of music, writing, etc.: concise and controlled. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > quality of voice > [adjective] > shrill or forced shrillc1386 shirl1418 straineda1542 treble1550 efforced1590 shrilly1594 minikin1602 stridulous1646 feigned1664 extended1699 pipy1769 falsetto1826 screechy1834 stridulent1874 roofy1897 taut1916 society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > conciseness > [adjective] compendious1388 briefc1430 short1487 short and sweet1545 curted1568 summarc1575 laconical1576 summary1582 succinct1585 totala1586 laconic1589 concisec1590 compendiary1609 press?1611 curt1631 Spartan1644 nutshell1647 severe1680 Lacedaemonian1780 straightforward1806 uncircumlocutory1808 shorthand1822 Spartanlike1838 unwordy1841 nutshelly1843 tight1870 Spartanic1882 unfarced1890 serried1899 taut1916 1916 D. Figgis Æ ii. 28 One wonders if they had bothered to read Thompson's fiery page of metaphors or had turned down Crashaw's taut music from its slumber on the shelves. 1930 Musical Times Nov. 995/2 The five operatic choruses by Handel are crisp and taut music on paper. 1932 J. Drinkwater Discovery xxxi. 149 A commercial traveller..absorbed in the taut dialogue of one of Galsworthy's social scenes. 1972 Observer 16 Apr. 33/6 A short, taut, yet circumstantially detailed account. 1992 Rolling Stone 10 Dec. 174/2 Finger picking an acoustic guitar, sampling fleet beats and pulling taut choruses out of thin air. 2008 Hollywood Reporter 18–20 Jan. 16 This taut, savvy cyber-thriller makes for one of the better Net flicks. Phrases † to make it taut: to make an agreement firm or binding. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > [adjective] > fixed, settled to make it tautc1325 certain1393 assured1430 suredc1450 ascertaineda1513 ratified1533 testified1552 assecurit?1553 affirmed1568 settled1578 sure1582 fastened1596 secured1600 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 10498 (MED) Þe king glosede her & þer & made it somdel touȝt, Ac þo it com to þe strengþe, he nolde it graunti nouȝt. c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 522 ‘Gos into my vyne, dotȝ þat ȝe conne’; So sayde þe lorde, and made hit toȝt. Compounds C1. a. Adverbial with past participles, as taut-rigged, taut-stretched, etc. ΚΠ 1803 in Naval Documents U.S. Wars Barbary Powers (1940) II. 404 Being taught Stowed between two fat fellows, I slep[t]. 1829 D. Jerrold Black-ey'd Susan i. i. 15 There's not so fine, so noble, so taut-rigged a fellow in His Majesty's navy. 1862 C. P. Smyth Three Cities in Russia II. iv. vii. 511 The large American frigate..filled half the panorama before us with its display of taut-pulled roping. 1908 H. M. Sylvester Olde Pemaquid (1909) 139 The faint halloo of two sailors leaning over the rail of a taut-rigged schooner. 1943 D. Gascoyne Poems 1937–42 42 The sky's a faded blue and taut-stretched flag Tenting the quadrangle. 2001 Harper's Mag. Jan. 39/1 Pressure on the neck, and from the downward force of the bridge feet beneath the taut-stretched strings, had forced the f-holes into less than perfect symmetry. b. Parasynthetic, as taut-faced, taut-necked, taut-skinned, etc. ΚΠ 1826 S. Stutchbury Jrnl. 4 Mar. in Sci. in Sea of Commerce (1996) 79 It appears to me a great oversight that this taut masted Ship should be sent to Sea without a conductor. 1901 T. A. Coghlan Picturesque New S. Wales 50 They look very tempting, those cool, swollen, taut-skinned berries. 1948 L. MacNeice Holes in Sky 31 The taut-necked donkey's..lamenting. 1998 K. Lette Altar Ego xviii. 165 She bee-lined for the taut-bunned waiter behind the bar. 2004 Seattle Times (Nexis) 12 Sept. k1 You're a sleek-bodied, taut-faced, full-lipped honey. C2. taut-ship adj. originally and chiefly Nautical strict, severe, disciplinarian; cf. sense 5. ΘΚΠ society > authority > strictness > [adjective] > disciplinarian disciplinary1599 disciplinarian1640 martinet1814 martinetish1852 regimental1919 taut-ship1941 1941 Time 29 Dec. 8/1 The promoted admirals were ‘taut ship’ commanders (meaning rigid disciplinarians, as opposed to ‘happy ship’ officers). 1970 H. Waugh Finish me Off 106 Yesterday she had been haughty and taut-ship, but today..Mrs. Hardell's position had suddenly become tenuous. 1977 Navy News July 20 All the taut-ship zeal for a tip-top navy, which gave Whale Island its fame as one of the best-known of service establishments, has been redirected. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022). tautv. Brit. /tɔːt/, U.S. /tɔt/, /tɑt/, Scottish English /tɔt/ Forms: 1800s tawt, 1800s– taut. Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: tat v.⁴ Etymology: Variant of tat v.⁴ Compare earlier tauted adj., tauty adj. Compare also earlier tatter n.¹, tatty adj.¹ Scottish. transitive. To mat or tangle (the hair, wool, etc.). Also intransitive: to become matted or tangled. Cf. earlier tauted adj., tat v.⁴ Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this word as still in use in Ayrshire in 1957 (cf. quot. 1977 at taut n.). ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [verb (transitive)] > tangled foldc1384 felter?a1400 elfa1616 taut1853 intermat1927 1853 J. Pringle Poems & Songs 120 He dirtied a' your braw new frock, An' tautit a' your hair. 1882 Jamieson's Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (new ed.) Suppl. Tat, taut, tawt, v.n., to mat, tangle, or run into tates, locks, or tufts, as wool or hair does: also used as a v.a., as, ‘Dinna taut your hair sa.’ This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1887adj.c1275v.1853
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tautn.

tautadj.

Phrases

Compounds

tautv.