Tenter

5 definitions found

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

  Tenter \Ten"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Tentered}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Tentering}.]
     To admit extension.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Woolen cloth will tenter, linen scarcely. --Bacon.


     [1913 Webster]

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

  Tenter \Ten"ter\, v. t.
     To hang or stretch on, or as on, tenters.
     [1913 Webster]

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

  Tenter \Ten"ter\, n.
     1. One who takes care of, or tends, machines in a factory; a
        kind of assistant foreman.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mach.) A kind of governor.
        [1913 Webster]

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]:

  tenter
       n : a framework with hooks used for stretching and drying cloth