Standard Lemma guide

tenterhook

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

One of a series of hooks used to stretch cloth on a tenter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

one of a series of hooks used to hold cloth on a tenter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hook, claw

History

Etymology

From tenter + hook.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Spannhaken — one of a series of hooks used to stretch cloth on a tenter
  • Hungarian: feszítőhorog — one of a series of hooks used to stretch cloth on a tenter
  • Hungarian: feszítőkampó — one of a series of hooks used to stretch cloth on a tenter