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Taut vs Caut - What's the difference?

taut | caut |

As an adjective taut

is tight; under tension, as in a rope or bow string.

As a verb caut is

(obsolete|done by a panther) emit a call in the manner of a panther.

taut

English

Alternative forms

* (Scotland)

Adjective

(er)
  • Tight; under tension, as in a rope or bow string.
  • * 1883:
    • The hawser was as taut as a bowstring - so strong she pulled upon her anchor.
  • Experiencing stress or anxiety.
  • * 1989 Faye Kellerman, The Quality of Mercy
    • His outward appearance was calm, but inside he was very taut .
  • Containing only relevant parts, brief and controlled.
  • * 2007 Milton C. Sernett, Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory and History
    • Quick action and dialogue create a taut story, although it is illustration that shapes the characters.

    Derived terms

    * tauten * tautly * tautness

    Synonyms

    tense ----

    caut

    English

    Verb

  • (obsolete, done by a panther) Emit a call in the manner of a panther.
  • * 1688 , Randle Holme, The Academy of Armory, or A Storehouse of Armory and Blazon , volume 2, page 134, column 2
    • A Panther Cauteth, which word is taken from the sound of his voice.
  • (obsolete) (in figurative extension)
  • * 1722 May 2nd, Ebenezer Elliston, “The La?t Speech and Dying Words of Ebenezer Elli?ton” in Mi?cellanies (ed. Jonathan Swift, pub. 1751, volume nine, fifth edition), pages 19–20
    • If I have done Service to Men in what I have ?aid, I ?hall hope I have done Service to God; and that will be better than a ?illy Speech made for me, full of whining and cauting, which I utterly de?pi?e, and have never been u?ed to; yet ?uch a one I expect to have my Ears tormented with, as I am pa??ing along the Streets[.]

    References

    * “ †caut, v.'']” listed in the '' [2nd ed., 1989 ----