Definition of "stiff"

“A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; […]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.

1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company

You have discovered the corpse of Captain Willem of the MSV Majesty. His stiff fingers are wrapped tightly around a small datapad.

2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Xawin

To fit them for heavy loads on gradients as stiff as 1 in 45 in tropical conditions, these Class 90 diesels embody several unusual features, [...].

1961 February, “New English Electric diesels for East Africa”, in Trains Illustrated, page 90

In the end, perhaps these deflections are easier than confronting the reality and debunking some of the less helpful stories a certain section of England likes to tell about itself. Much easier to just order another stiff one, and raise the old toast: “My country, right or wrong!”

2023 July 4, Marina Hyde, “Who’s for political Bazball with Rishi? Voters? Tories? Anyone?”, in The Guardian‎

I go all out, go for the long ball, the stiff shots to the pin, aim for the back of the cup.

1968, William Price Fox, Southern Fried Plus Six: Short Works of Fiction, page 219

The clerk shrugged: “That's the boss's little girl.” “Why, the lucky stiff!” said Keating. “He's been holding out on me.” “You misunderstood me,” the clerk said coldly. “It's his daughter. It's Dominique Francon.”

1943, Ayn Rand, chapter IX, in The Fountainhead

This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it would be pushing up the daisies!

1969 December 7, Monty Python, “Full Frontal Nudity, Dead Parrot sketch”, in Monty Python's Flying Circus, spoken by Mr Praline (John Cleese)

If the movie was a stiff it wasn't any of their specific faults. They were all in it together and they were jobbed in and jobbed out for two weeks and gone and they got a pile of money for their efforts.

1994, Andy Dougan, The actors' director: Richard Attenborough behind the camera, page 63

They never did sell any records. I don't mean they didn't sell 100,000. I mean they didn't sell 5000. Total. National. Coast-to-coast. The record was a stiff.

2016, Ralph J. Gleason, Toby Gleason, Music in the Air: The Selected Writings of Ralph J. Gleason

We asked one girl to explain how she felt when she was "stiffed." She said, You think of all the work you've done and how you've tried to please [them…].

1946, William Foote Whyte, Industry and Society, page 129

You see, poor Nonie really was stiffed by Adolph in his will. He really stiffed her, Rose, and I really wanted to right that wrong.

1992, Stephen Birmingham, Shades of Fortune, page 451

Then he stiffed the waiter with a cheap tip.

2007, Mary Higgins Clark, I Heard That Song Before, page 154

But you know it could be a hassle / Trying to explain myself to a police officer / About how it was your old lady got herself stiffed

1978, Lou Reed (lyrics and music), “Street Hassle”, in Street Hassle

"Come To Me" moved but a few to buy a copy; "My Queen" stiffed in the stall.

1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, page 18

At Feversham was a very High Tide in the Afternoon, tho' the Wind was Southerly, and blew very stiff, which the Seamen there wondered at.

1731, John Lowthorp, Philosophical Transactions and Collections to the End of the Year MDCC, 4th edition, volume II, page 282

It soon blew stiff, & we scudded before it under double-reefed topsails, & mainsail hauled up.

1849 October 23, Herman Melville, edited by Howard C. Horsforth and Lynn Horth, The Writings of Herman Melville: Journals, volume 15, published 1989, page 9

At about 11.30 am it rained tremendously and blew very stiff.

1871 September 16, W.A. Crowther, Diary