[starch] vt [ME sterchen, prob. fr. (assumed) OE stercan to stiffen; akin to OE stearc stiff--more at stark] (15c): to stiffen with or as if with starch
[2]starch n (15c) 1: a white odorless tasteless granular or powdery complex carbohydrate that is the chief storage form of carbohydrate in plants, is an important foodstuff, and is used also in adhesives and sizes, in laundering, and in pharmacy and medicine
2: a stiff formal manner: formality
3: resolute vigor