tenterhooks

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  10. tenterhooks
Scope note
Small metal spikes or hooks designed to secure and stretch the edges of wet woven cloth as it dries after being exposed to fabrication processes such as washing, beating, and fulling, amongst others. Hundreds of these hooks are positioned in close rows around a wooden tenter frame to hold the fabric taut and prevent the damp piece of cloth from shrinking and warping out of shape during the drying process. Widely used in Europe beginning in the 15th century, this term's meaning later evolved and was abstracted in the 16th century to mean the expansion of one's consciousness and uncertainty about one's future.
tenterhooks
Accepted term: 10-Jun-2024