adj. 1 (of a rope, muscles, etc.) tight; not slack. 2 (of nerves) tense. 3 (of a ship etc.) in good order or condition. tauten v.tr. & intr. tautly adv. tautness n.
[ ME touht, togt, perh. = TOUGH, infl. by tog- past part. stem of obs. tee (OE teon) pull ]