Tenter-hook

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tenter \Ten"ter\, n. [OE. tenture, tentoure, OF. tenture a
     stretching, spreading, F. tenture hangings, tapestry, from L.
     tendere, tentum, to stretch. See {Tend} to move.]
     A machine or frame for stretching cloth by means of hooks,
     called tenter-hooks, so that it may dry even and square.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     {Tenter ground}, a place where tenters are erected.
  
     {Tenter-hook}, a sharp, hooked nail used for fastening cloth
        on a tenter.
  
     {To be on the tenters}, {To be on the tenter-hooks} or {To be
     on tenterhooks}, to be on the stretch; to be in distress,
        uneasiness, or suspense. --Hudibras.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tenterhook
       n : one of a series of hooks used to hold cloth on a tenter