See Also: Starch(medicine)
starch(encyclopedia)
starch(2)(dictionary)
starch(1)(dictionary)
starch gum(medicine)
liver starch(medicine)
starch 1, noun(dictionary)
alant starch(medicine)
animal starch(medicine)
cassava starch(medicine)

starch(2) (iou)



starch verb trans.

Stiffen, make rigid; make formal, severe, or pompous. Long only as fig. use of sense 2. Also foll. by up. OE.
Smollett She starched up her behaviour with a double portion of reserve.
Stiffen (linen etc.) with starch. LME.
absol.: S. Hood They..learned to..starch and iron.
Fasten or stick with starch paste; apply starch paste to. Now rare. E17.
Boxing. Knock out, floor. N. Amer. slang. L20.
starched ppl adjective stiffened with or as with starch; fig. stiff, formal, precise: L16.
starchedness noun stiffness, formality, primness L17.