taut

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Stretched or pulled tight, with no slack.

   The rope was taut between the two poles.

2. 2
   adj

   Firm and toned, not loose or flabby.

   Years of swimming had given her a taut, athletic body.

3. 3
   adj

   Tense or strained with anxiety.

   Her face was taut with worry as she waited for the results.

The adjective is derived from Middle English taught [and other forms], Early Middle English tohte, towehte (“strained, stretched; distended; tight; firm”), probably from tough, touth, touʒth, toʒt (“powerful, strong; fierce, violent; not tender, tough; hardy, resilient; steadfast, stout; difficult to do or endure”) and possibly influenced by togen, towen, past participle of ten (“to extend, stretch out; to drag, haul, pull, tow, tug”) (modern English tee (“(obsolete) to draw, lead; to draw away; to go, proceed”)), or directly from its etymon Old English tēon (“to drag, draw, pull”) (ultimately…

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