[They] rising on stiff pennons, tower The mid
a["e]rial sky. --Milton.
2. Not liquid or fluid; thick and tenacious; inspissated;
neither soft nor hard; as, the paste is stiff.
3. Firm; strong; violent; difficult to oppose; as, a stiff
gale or breeze.
4. Not easily subdued; unyielding; stubborn; obstinate;
pertinacious; as, a stiff adversary.
It is a shame to stand stiff in a foolish argument.
--Jer. Taylor.
A war ensues: the Cretans own their cause, Stiff to
defend their hospitable laws. --Dryden.
5. Not natural and easy; formal; constrained; affected;
starched; as, stiff behavior; a stiff style.
The French are open, familiar, and talkative; the
Italians stiff, ceremonious, and reserved.
--Addison.
6. Harsh; disagreeable; severe; hard to bear. [Obs. or
Colloq.] ``This is stiff news.'' --Shak.
7. (Naut.) Bearing a press of canvas without careening much;
as, a stiff vessel; -- opposed to {crank}. --Totten.
8. Very large, strong, or costly; powerful; as, a stiff
charge; a stiff price. [Slang]
{Stiff neck}, a condition of the neck such that the head can
not be moved without difficulty and pain.
Syn: Rigid; inflexible; strong; hardly; stubborn; obstinate;
pertinacious; harsh; formal; constrained; affected;
starched; rigorous.