vbl. sb. Obs. Forms: 6–7 stiffin(e, 7 steiffing, 7 stiffing. [f. STIFF v. + -ING1.] That which makes stiff: a. Sc. Starch. b. Material such as whalebone or canvas used to stiffen a garment.
1597. in Halyburton’s Ledger (1867), Pref. p. cxiv. Stiffine callit Amedone [printed Amedoue].
1611. in Heath, Grocers’ Comp. (1869), 93. None should wear … any body or sleeves of wire, whalebone, or with any other stiffing, saving canvass or buckram only.
1613. Extracts Rec. Convent. Burghs Scot. (1870), II. 395. Item, for lossing and careing ilk trie steiffing frome the skoute flote to the schip or hous iiij gritt.
1636. in Aberd. Jrnl. Notes & Q. (1910), III. 28/2. Nine puncheons ten tries of white stiffin.
