# taut

> English word · Adjective · IPA /tɔːt/ · frequency rank #32,618

## Definitions
1. Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
2. Not flabby; firm, toned; (of a person) having a lean, strong body.
3. Containing only relevant parts; brief and controlled.
4. Experiencing anxiety or stress.
5. Neat and well-disciplined; (by extension) efficient and in order.
6. Strong; uncompromising.

## Etymology
The adjective is derived from Middle English taught [and other forms], Early Middle English tohte, towehte (“strained, stretched; distended; tight; firm”), probably from tough, touth, touʒth, toʒt (“powerful, strong; fierce, violent; not tender, tough; hardy, resilient; steadfast, stout; difficult to do or endure”) and possibly influenced by togen, towen, past participle of ten (“to extend, stretch out; to drag, haul, pull, tow, tug”) (modern English tee (“(obsolete) to draw, lead; to draw away; to go, proceed”)), or directly from its etymon Old English tēon (“to drag, draw, pull”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- (“to draw, pull”)) The word may be related to thight (“(dialectal) compact, dense; close-fitting, tight”) and tight; and is cognate with Scots tacht, taght (“taut”).
The verb is probably derived from the adjective.

## Easily confused with
- **Tu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tu)
- **TT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tt)
- **tax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tax)
- **tub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tub)
- **tug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tug)
- **tit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tit)
- **TNT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tnt)
- **Tue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tue)
- **tot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tot)
- **tay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tay)
- **Thu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-thu)
- **tum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tum)
- **tru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tru)
- **tun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tun)
- **tut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tut)
- **tux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tux)
- **tet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tet)
- **tui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tui)
- **tur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-tur)
- **Taz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taut-vs-taz)

## Common misspellings (5)
`atut`, `tatu`, `tautt`, `ttaut`, `tuat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/taut