a. [ Compar. Stiffer superl. Stiffest. ] [ OE. stif, AS. stīf; akin to D. stijf, G. steif, Dan. stiv, Sw. styf, Icel. stīfr, Lith. stipti to be stiff; cf. L. stipes a post, trunk of a tree, stipare to press, compress. Cf. Costive, Stifle, Stipulate, Stive to stuff. ] 1. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints. [ 1913 Webster ] [ They ] rising on stiff pennons, tower
The mid aerial sky. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated; neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff gale or breeze. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary. [ 1913 Webster ] It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hospitable laws. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected; starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style. [ 1913 Webster ] The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear. [ Obs. or Colloq. ] “This is stiff news.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. (Naut.) Bearing a press of canvas without careening much; as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to crank. Totten. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff charge; a stiff price. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Stiff neck, a condition of the neck such that the head can not be moved without difficulty and pain. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate; pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected; starched; rigorous. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
