Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
tenterhooks — (n.) late 15c., one of the hooks that holds cloth on a tenter, from TENTER (Cf. tenter) + HOOK (Cf. hook) (n.). The figurative phrase on tenterhooks in painful suspense is from 1748; earlier to be on tenters (1530s) … Etymology dictionary
tenterhooks — n. on tenterhooks ( in suspense ) * * * on tenterhooks ( in suspense ) … Combinatory dictionary
tenterhooks — ten|ter|hooks [ˈtentəhuks US ər ] n especially BrE [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: tenterhook sharp nail for fastening cloth on a tenter (15 20 centuries), from tenter frame for drying and stretching cloth (13 20 centuries) (from Medieval Latin tentura … Dictionary of contemporary English
tenterhooks — [[t]te̱ntə(r)hʊks[/t]] PHRASE: v link PHR If you are on tenterhooks, you are very nervous and excited because you are wondering what is going to happen in a particular situation. He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors decision… … English dictionary
tenterhooks — noun be on tenterhooks to feel nervous and excited because you are waiting for something: She had been on tenterhooks all night, expecting Joe to return at any moment … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
tenterhooks — ten|ter|hooks [ tentər,huks ] noun on tenterhooks nervous because you do not know what is going to happen … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
tenterhooks — [15] A tenterhook is one of a set of hooks used to hold cloth taut on a frame during manufacture, especially while its dries (tenter comes from medieval Latin tentorium, a derivative of Latin tendere ‘stretch’). The metaphorical use of on… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
tenterhooks — in a state of suspense or strain because of uncertainty They have been on tenterhooks all week while waiting for the decision about the Olympics … Idioms and examples
tenterhooks — on tenterhooks … Thesaurus of popular words
tenterhooks — UK [ˈtentə(r)ˌhʊks] / US [ˈtentərˌhʊks] noun on tenterhooks … English dictionary
