tenterhookn.
/ˈtɛntəhʊk/, U.S. /ˈtɛn(t)ərˌhʊk/ 1.
a. One of the hooks or bent nails set in a close row along the upper and lower bar of a tenter, by which the edges of the cloth are firmly held; a hooked or right-angled nail or spike; dialect a metal hook upon which anything is hung.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > treating or processing textile fabric > [noun] > stretching > framework > hook or nail in
tenterhook1480
tent-hook1491
tenter1605
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that by which something is suspended > hook
hookc900
crookc1290
rackhook1457
tenter1592
tenterhook1888
cup hook1895
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 139 Tentourhokes, cc.
1492–3 in H. Littlehales Medieval Rec. London City Church (1905) 186 Item, for tayntyrhokes and ffor wachyng of the sepulture, xij d.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Ciiii Her naylys sharpe as tenter hokys.
1579 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Queen Elizabeth (1908) 324 Tainter Hookes at viiid the c.
a1683 A. Sidney Disc. Govt. (1704) iii. xxxii. 369 The King of Marocco may stab his Subjects, throw them to the Lions, or hang them upon tenterhooks.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 348/1 The Tentry Hook is a Nail with a crooked Head, yet sharp pointed, that it may strike into any thing hung upon it.
1777 J. Howard State of Prisons (1780) 404 The partition between this and the garden..strong palisades with tenter-hooks.
1825 C. Waterton Wanderings in S. Amer. iii. iii. 254 On examining his teeth I found that they were all bent like tenter-hooks, pointing down his throat.
1888 S. O. Addy Gloss. Words Sheffield Tenter-hooks, the hooks upon which the valances of a bed are hung.
1889 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (ed. 2) Tenter-hooks, strong iron hooks put in ceilings and..joists.., on which bacon and other such things are hung.
b. transferred. = tenter n.1 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > hair or bristle > [noun] > hooked hair or barb
tenter1616
tenterhook1665
barb1864
hook1866
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > projection or protuberance > [noun] > hooked part
tenter1616
tenterhook1665
hook1666
hooklet1836
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia xxxiv. 164 It was arm'd likewise with the like Tenterhooks or claws with those of the sheath.
1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. To Rdr. sig. A6v The Beards (or Tenter-hooks [of a bee's sting] as Dr. Hook calls them) lie only on one side of each Spear, not all round them.
1816 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. (1818) II. xxiii. 323 These tenter-hooks in the suckers of flies..are mere fancies.
2.
a. figurative. That on which something is stretched or strained; something that causes suffering or painful suspense. Cf. tenter n.1 3.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun]
sorrowOE
ail?c1225
scorpion?c1225
dolec1290
angera1325
anguishc1330
cupa1340
aggrievancea1400
discomfortc1405
afflictionc1429
sytec1440
pressurea1500
constraint1509
tenterhook1532
grief1535
annoying1566
troubler1567
griper1573
vexation1588
infliction1590
trouble1591
temptationc1595
load1600
torment1600
wringer1602
sorance1609
inflicting1611
brusha1616
freighta1631
woe-heart1637
ordeala1658
cut-up1782
unpleasure1792
iron maiden1870
mental cruelty1899
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > anxiety > [noun] > cause of acute anxiety
waterOE
tenterhook1532
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > [noun] > cause of suspense
tenterhook1823
strip-tease1937
1532 T. More Confut. Barnes in Wks. (1557) 797/1 The churche..is stretched out in the stretcher or tenter hookes of the crosse, as a churche well washed and cleansed.
1601 R. Chester Loves Martyr 138 Ract on the tenter-hookes of foule disgrace.
1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIV xcvii. 163 [It] keeps the atrocious reader in suspense; The surest way for ladies and for books To bait their tender or their tenter-hooks.
b. esp. in phrases to put, set, strain, stretch on the tenterhooks: to strain, distort the sense of (words) (? obsolete); to strain (conscience, truth, authority, credit, etc.) beyond the proper, normal, or natural extent, limit, or scope; to put a strain on (a faculty, power, or capacity). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > misapply > apply or use beyond its province
overstretcha1425
to put, set, stretch, etc. on (the) tenter(sa1533
stretch1553
to put, set, strain, stretch on the tenterhooks1583
outstretch1597
strain1597
tenter1611
overdraw1889
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E4v He racketh it, straineth it, and as it were so setteth it on the tenter hookes.
1603 H. Crosse Vertues Common-wealth sig. H3v To racke, extort, and purloyne from other, and by setting the conscience on the tainter-hookes, to rise vp by his fall.
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 134 Nor doe I here stretch my discourse on the tenter-hookes of partiality.
1700 W. King Transactioneer ii. 57 The poor People have set their Wits, as if it were on the Tenter-hooks, to make Turnep-Bread in Essex.
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. I. 340 Honest men..sometimes strain truth on the tenter-hooks of fiction.
c. to be on (the) tenterhooks: i.e. in a state of painful suspense or impatience: cf. tenter n.1 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > apprehension > be apprehensive [verb (intransitive)]
trance1340
to be on (the) tenter(s1633
to be on (the) tenterhooks1748
stew1917
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > be in suspense [verb (intransitive)]
dependc1430
to hang up1623
to be on (the) tenter(s1633
to be on (the) tenterhooks1748
(to be, sit, stand, walk) on thorns (a thorn)1768
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > anxiety > be anxious [verb (intransitive)] > be acutely anxious
to be on (the) tenter(s1633
to chafe, fret, fry, melt, stew, sweat in one's own grease1663
to be on (the) tenterhooks1748
to be on heckle pins1850
sweat1963
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. xlv. 94 I..left him upon the tenter-hooks of impatient uncertainty.
1812 R. Wilson Private Diary (1861) I. 127 Until I reach the imperial headquarters I shall be on tenter-hooks.
1897 Sat. Rev. 25 Dec. 754/1 The author keeps..the reader..on tenterhooks.
3. attributive.
ΚΠ
1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 37 This dogge..is violent in fighting, & wheresoeuer he setteth his tenterhooke teeth, he taketh such sure & fast hold that a man may sooner teare and rende him in sunder, then lose him and seperate his chappes.
1907 Westm. Gaz. 12 Sept. 2/1 What may be called ‘tenterhook living’ or existence on the crust of a volcano.
1980 P. Van Greenaway Dissident ii. 41 Alex had listened with tenterhook attention.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > inordinate or excessive desire > [adjective] > rapacious
ravenousc1425
rapinous1484
ravening1548
rapacious1572
scambling1600
large-handeda1616
tenter-hooking1615
vulturizing1650
vulturian1659
leech-like1682
vulturine1721
vulturish1826
vulturous1843
1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 197 Auoid such tenter-hooking men.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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