Dictionary entry

Tight (2)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Tight, a. [Compar.Tighter (?); superl.Tightest.] [OE. tight, thiht; probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. �ēttr, Dan. tæt, Sw. tät: akin to D. & G. dicht thick, tight, and perhaps to E. thee to thrive, or to thick. Cf. Taut.] 1. Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open; as, tight cloth; a tight knot.

2. Close, so as not to admit the passage of a liquid or other fluid; not leaky; as, a tight ship; a tight cask; a tight room; — often used in this sense as the second member of a compound; as, water-tight; air-tight.

3. Fitting close, or too close, to the body; as, a tight coat or other garment.

4. Not ragged; whole; neat; tidy.

Clad very plain, but clean and tight. Evelyn.

I'll spin and card, and keep our children tight. Gay.

5. Close; parsimonious; saving; as, a man tight in his dealings.

6. Not slack or loose; firmly stretched; taut; — applied to a rope, chain, or the like, extended or stretched out.

7. Handy; adroit; brisk. Shak.

8. Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy.

9. (Com.) Pressing; stringent; not easy; firmly held; dear; — said of money or the money market. Cf. Easy, 7.