stiff English · revision 14991

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1000|origins=gem-pro *stīfaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /stɪf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|stif]], [[inh|ang|stīf|t=rigid, not easily bent]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[gem-pro|*stīfaz|t=inflexible]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with [[gml|stīf]], [[nl|stijf]] and [[de|steif]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and related to [[la|stīpō|t=to press, pack]] and [[m|la|stīpes|t=stake, post]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Rigid, not flexible: 1000 in Old English.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Middle English stif is probably from before 1200, in Layamon.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In physical senses it often suggested the stiffness of death from about 1200.^(Etymonline) Of the body, lacking suppleness, it is from about 1305,^(OED 1989) of wind, strong and steady, from the 13th century,^(Hoad 1986) and of a slope, steep and difficult, from the 18th.^(Hoad 1986) Of machinery, hard to move, it is from 1848.^(OED 1989) The noun, a corpse, is American slang from 1859,^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) a racehorse sure to lose from 1890, and a working man from 1930.^(Etymonline) The ''stiff upper lip'' is North American in origin, from the early 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to fail to tip, is American English by 1934, from restaurant and hotel workers.^(Etymonline) Latin stīpō is also the source of [[constipate]] and, through Spanish, [[stevedore]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1000 – stīf, rigid.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1305 – of the body, stiff.^(OED 1989)

+ * 13th century – of wind, strong.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * early 19th century – stiff upper lip.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1859 – a stiff, a corpse.^(Etymonline)

+ * by 1934 – to stiff, fail to tip (US).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not easily bent; rigid.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not moving or working easily: ''a stiff handle''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Painful or difficult to move: ''a stiff neck''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Formal, awkward or unrelaxed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Thick; not fluid.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Severe, harsh or difficult: ''a stiff punishment'', ''a stiff climb''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strong or powerful: ''a stiff breeze'', ''a stiff drink''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Completely, extremely: ''bored stiff''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(slang)'' A corpse.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(slang)'' A dull, formal person; a fellow; a tramp.^(AHD)

+ # ''(slang)'' A poor tipper.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To tip someone inadequately or not at all.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(informal)'' To cheat someone of something owed.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[stiffish]]

+ * [[stiffly]]

+ * [[stiffness]]

+ * [[overstiff]]

+ * [[stiffen]]

+ * [[unstiff]]

+ * [[stiff-arm]]

+ * [[stiff-necked]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[constipate]]

+ * [[stevedore]]

+ * [[stipulate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}