tent

tent
\ \ [13] A tent is etymologically something that is ‘stretched’ – over a frame to provide shelter.
\ \ The word comes via Old French tente from Vulgar Latin *tenta, a noun derived from the past participial stem of Latin tenderestretch’ (source of English tend, tendency, etc). It was supposedly inspired by the expression pelles tendere, literally ‘stretch skins’, that is, ‘stretch animal hides over a framework to make a tent’, which was used metaphorically for ‘set up a camp’.
\ \ Cf.TEND

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • tent — tent1 [tent] n. [ME < OFr tente < L tenta, fem. pp. of tentus, alt. pp. of tendere, to stretch: see THIN] 1. a portable shelter consisting of canvas, skins, etc. stretched over poles and attached to stakes 2. anything suggestive of a tent,… …   English World dictionary

  • Tent — Tent, n. [OE. tente, F. tente, LL. tenta, fr. L. tendere, tentum, to stretch. See {Tend} to move, and cf. {Tent} a roll of lint.] 1. A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tent — Tent, v. t. [OF. tenter. See {Tempt}.] To probe or to search with a tent; to keep open with a tent; as, to tent a wound. Used also figuratively. [1913 Webster] I ll tent him to the quick. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tent — (1979) Album par The Nits Sortie 1979 Enregistrement Juin 1979–Octobre 1979 à Artisound, Amsterdam à Relight, Hilvarenbeek Genre New wave Produc …   Wikipédia en Français

  • tent — [tent] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: tente, from Latin tenta, from the past participle of tendere; TEND] a shelter consisting of a sheet of cloth supported by poles and ropes, used especially for camping ▪ We looked for a flat spot… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Tent — Tent, n. [F. tente. See {Tent} to probe.] (Surg.) (a) A roll of lint or linen, or a conical or cylindrical piece of sponge or other absorbent, used chiefly to dilate a natural canal, to keep open the orifice of a wound, or to absorb discharges.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tent — c.1300, portable shelter of skins or cloths stretched over poles, from O.Fr. tente (12c.), from M.L. tenta a tent, noun use of fem. sing. of L. tentus stretched, variant pp. of tendere to stretch (see TENET (Cf. tenet)). The notion is of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Tent — Tent, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Tented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tenting}.] To lodge as a tent; to tabernacle. Shak. [1913 Webster] We re tenting to night on the old camp ground. W. Kittredge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tent — Tent, n. [Sp. tinto, properly, deep colored, fr. L. tinctus, p. p. of tingere to dye. See {Tinge}, and cf. {Tint}, {Tinto}.] A kind of wine of a deep red color, chiefly from Galicia or Malaga in Spain; called also {tent wine}, and {tinta}. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tent — [ tent ] noun count ** a shelter made of cloth and supported with poles and ropes tent camp/city a place where a lot of people live in tents because they lost their homes due to war or other bad events …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tent|y — «TEHN tee», adjective, tent|i|er, tent|i|est. Scottish. watchful; observant …   Useful english dictionary

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