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