adj. & n.
--adj.
1. rigid; not flexible.
2 hard to bend or move or turn etc.; not working freely.
3 hard to cope with; needing strength or effort (a stiff test; a stiff climb).
4 severe or strong (a stiff breeze; a stiff penalty).
5 (of a person or manner) formal, constrained; lacking spontaneity.
6 (of a muscle or limb etc., or a person affected by these) aching when used, owing to previous exertion, injury, etc.
7 (of an alcoholic or medicinal drink) strong.
8 (predic.) colloq. to an extreme degree (bored stiff; scared stiff).
9 (foll. by with) colloq. abounding in (a place stiff with tourists).
--n. sl.
1. a corpse.
2 a foolish or useless person (you big stiff).
Phrases and idioms:
stiff neck a rheumatic condition in which the head cannot be turned without pain. stiff-necked obstinate or haughty. stiff upper lip firmness, fortitude.
Derivatives:
stiffish adj. stiffly adv. stiffness n.
Etymology: OE stif f. Gmc