tenterhook

noun

ten·​ter·​hook ˈten-tər-ˌhu̇k How to pronounce tenterhook (audio)
: a sharp hooked nail used especially for fastening cloth on a tenter
see also:
on tenterhooks

Examples of tenterhook in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This news ought to have the top three players on tenterhooks. — Tim Culpan | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 25 July 2019 There's a tentative deal on the debt ceiling, but the markets are still on tenterhooks. — WSJ, 30 May 2023 Instead of leaving an audience on tenterhooks, we’re left only to shrug. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2023 But Europe is set to remain on tenterhooks through the winter, with surging prices ravaging its economies. — Elena Mazneva, Bloomberg.com, 2 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for tenterhook

Word History

Etymology

tenter entry 1 + hook entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenterhook was in the 15th century

Rhymes for tenterhook

See All Rhymes for tenterhook

Browse Nearby Words

tenterer
tenterhook
tenth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tenterhook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenterhook. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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