stiff up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To apply rubber without oil as part of the French polishing process.

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Synonym of stiffen up.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “stiff up” mean?

To apply rubber without oil as part of the French polishing process.

Is “stiff up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.