Main Entry:

¹taut

Pronunciation:

\ˈtȯt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English tought, perhaps from tought, toughth fierce, tough, alteration of tough tough

Date:

14th century

1 a: having no give or slack : tightly drawn <a taut rope> b: high-strung, tense <taut nerves>2 a: kept in proper order or condition <a taut ship> b (1): not loose or flabby <taut muscles> (2): marked by economy of structure and detail <a taut story>

— taut·ly adverb

— taut·ness noun