adjective

1. hard to bend or stretch; rigid; firm; not flexible or pliant
2. hard to move or operate; not free or limber
3. stretched tight; taut; tense
4. 1. sore or limited in movement: said of joints and muscles
   2. having such joints or muscles, as from exertion, cold, etc.
5. not fluid or loose; viscous; thick; dense; firm to beat egg whites until stiff
6. strong; specif.,
   1. moving swiftly, as a breeze or current
   2. containing much alcohol: said of a drink
   3. of high potency a stiff dose of medicine
   4. done or delivered with great force; powerful
7. harsh stiff punishment
8. difficult to do or deal with a stiff climb, stiff competition
9. excessively formal, constrained, or awkward; not easy, natural, or graceful
10. resolute, stubborn, or uncompromising, as a person, a fight, etc.
11. Informal high or excessive a stiff price
12. Slang drunk; intoxicated
13. Naut. not careening or heeling over much despite the amount of sail carried or the strength of the wind

Etymology: ME stif < OE, akin to Ger steif < IE *stip-, a pole, stick together (var. of base *steib(h)-, rod) > L stipes, stem, stake, log, stipare, to crowd, cram

adverb

1. to a stiff condition
2. Informal completely; thoroughly scared stiff

noun

1. ☆ a corpse
2. ☆ a drunken person
3. an excessively formal or constrained person
4. ☆ an awkward or rough person
5. ☆ a hobo
6. ☆ a man a working stiff
7. a person who gives a small tip or no gratuity at all

transitive verb stiffed, stiffing stiff′·ing

1. to cheat (someone), as by not paying
2. to fail to leave a tip for