From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Stiff \Stiff\, a. [Compar. {Stiffer}; superl. {Stiffest}.] [OE.
stif, AS. st[imac]f; akin to D. stijf, G. steif, Dan. stiv,
Sw. styf, Icel. st[imac]fr, Lith. stipti to be stiff; cf. L.
stipes a post, trunk of a tree, stipare to press, compress.
Cf. {Costive}, {Stifle}, {Stipulate}, {Stive} to stuff.]
1. Not easily bent; not flexible or pliant; not limber or
flaccid; rigid; firm; as, stiff wood, paper, joints.
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[They] rising on stiff pennons, tower
The mid aerial sky. --Milton.
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2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated;
neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.
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3. Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff
gale or breeze.
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4. Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate;
pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.
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It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.
--Jer. Taylor.
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A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hospitable laws. --Dryden.
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5. Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected;
starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.
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The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the
Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved.
--Addison.
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6. Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear. [Obs. or
Colloq.] "This is stiff news." --Shak.
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7. (Naut.) Bearing a press of canvas without careening much;
as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to {crank}. --Totten.
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8. Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff
charge; a stiff price. [Slang]
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{Stiff neck}, a condition of the neck such that the head can
not be moved without difficulty and pain.
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Syn: Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate;
pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected;
starched; rigorous.
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