tenter

1 of 2

noun (1)

ten·ter ˈten-tər

: a frame or endless track with hooks or clips along two sides that is used for drying and stretching cloth

archaic : tenterhook

tenter

2 of 2

Examples of tenter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Noun

This campground has a more communal feel than others in the park, as tenters are required to walk in and find space. —

Emily Pennington, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English teyntour, tentour, tenture, probably borrowed from Medieval Latin tentōrium "tent, tabernacle, canopy, frame for stretching skins or cloth," going back to Latin, "shelter made of skins or cloth, tent," from ten-, stem in nominal derivation of tendere "to extend outward, stretch" + -tōrium, suffix of places, from neuter of -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix — more at tender entry 3

Noun (2)

tent entry 1 or tent entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of tenter was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century