[f. STIFFEN v. + -ER1.]
1. A workman who stiffens (cloth, hats, etc.).
1696. MSS. Ho. Lords (N. S.), II. 245. Petition of the Glazers and Buckram Stiffeners.
1892. Labour Commission Gloss., Stiffener, the person who, after the hat has been sewn, applies to it a stiffening of gelatine to make it firm and to allow it to be properly fitted to the required shape.
1915. Morn. Post, 20 Dec., 9/4. Manglers and stiffeners, beetlers, driers and stovers.
2. Something serving to stiffen.
1842. Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., V. 363/2. The truss acting only in this capacity of a stiffener to the rib.
1847. Brandon, Anal. Goth. Archit., 101. That [metalwork] which is spread over the doors of the Chapter House at York, is merely used as a stiffener.
1859. R. F. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geog. Soc., XXIX. 133. A stout lath is fastened as a stiffener to the shield lengthwise.
1871. Earle, Philol. Eng. Tongue, 557. Metre acts as a sort of stiffener to the rhythm.
1883. Glasg. Weekly Herald, 8 Sept., 3/3. As a stiffener of fabrics algin is better than starch.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., x. 118. The smaller bulkheads … have vertical angle-bar stiffeners 2 feet apart.
b. A band of stiff material worn round the neck to keep a neck-cloth in place. Obs.
1818. Blackw. Mag., III. 404. No patent stiffeners,—no erect shirt collars.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, xvi. Other anomalies now obsolete, besides short-waisted coats and broad stiffeners.
1876. Remin. Old Draper, 157. Stiffeners were sold of various degrees of height, to suit either a long-necked or a short-necked man.
