Taut a.
  1. Naut. Tight; stretched; not slack; -- said esp. of a rope that is tightly strained.
  2. Snug; close; firm; secure.
  Taut hand Naut., a sailor's term for an officer who is severe in discipline.
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  taut
       adj 1: pulled or drawn tight; "taut sails"; "a tight drumhead"; "a
              tight rope" [syn: tight]
       2: subjected to great tension; stretched tight; "the skin of
          his face looked drawn and tight"; "her nerves were taut as
          the strings of a bow" [syn: drawn]