Stiffener

noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Anything added to something in order to stiffen it, such as a support beam, or starch for a collar.

    "[…] he wears a wisp of black silk round his neck, without any stiffener, as an apology for a neckerchief […]"

  2. 2
    a member attached to a beam web to prevent loss of strength due to web buckling. wordnet
  3. 3
    One of a series of angle bars, Z-bars, beams, rods, or other shapes, attached in order to provide them the necessary stiffness or rigidity.
  4. 4
    material used for stiffening something wordnet
  5. 5
    An alcoholic drink taken to fortify oneself. slang

    "I believe the old man has taken himself off to the nearest bar for a stiffener."

Etymology

From stiffen + -er.

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