STIFF

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English stif, from Old English stīf; akin to Middle Dutch stijf ~, Latin stipare to press together, Greek steibein to tread on Date: before 12th century 1. not easily bent ; rigid , lacking in suppleness or flexibility , impeded in movement, drunk 1a, 2. firm , resolute , stubborn , unyielding , proud , d. marked by reserve or decorum, lacking in ease or grace ; stilted , hard fought ; pugnacious , sharp , 4. a. exerting great force , forceful , vigorous , potent , of a dense or glutinous consistency ; thick , 6. harsh , severe , arduous , rugged , not easily heeled over by an external force (as the wind) , expensive , steep , ~ish adjective ~ly adverb ~ness noun Synonyms: see: ~ II. adverb Date: 13th century in a ~ manner ; ~ly, to an extreme degree ; severely , close enough to the hole for an easy putt in golf , III. noun Date: circa 1859 corpse , 2. tramp , bum , a member of the working class, person , flop , failure , IV. verb Date: 1950 transitive verb 1. to refuse to pay or tip , cheat , stick 7a , snub 3 , intransitive verb to fail commercially