a. and sb. [a. L. tenax tough: see TENACIOUS.]
† A. adj. Tough, tenacious. Obs. rare–1.
1605. Timme, Quersit., III. 144. The substance of sulphur … is tenax & retentiue.
B. sb. A trade name of fine carded oakum used as a surgical dressing (Billings).
1889. Athenæum, 31 Aug., 283/1. She … made a pillow for the back out of a piece of pink cambric stuffed with tenax [at Ladysmith].
1891. Scenes Life Nurse, 20. Some tenax (a kind of oakum) was lying with some other dressings on the side table.
