vbl. sb. [f. TENTER v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb TENTER; the stretching (of cloth) on tenters or by means of other mechanical devices.
1483–4. Act 1 Rich. III., c. 8 § 7. No maner persone … set nor drawe … any maner of Wollen Cloth … by the meane of teynteryng or otherwise.
1597–8. Act 39 Eliz., c. 20 (title), An Acte aginst the deceitfull stretching and taintering of Northerne Cloth.
1677. Jordan, Lond. Tri., 20. The Tentering I wot Must not be forgot.
1706. A. Boyer, Ann. Q. Anne, IV. 28. The tentring or stretching of any the aforesaid draperies.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Tentering, a technical term for stretching woven goods to dry, after being stiffened or dyed.
b. attrib. as tentering-house, -machine, -room.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Tentering-machine, a machine for stretching fabrics.
1881. Daily News, 21 Jan., 5/6. Her body was found in the ruins of the tentering house.
c. 1890. W. H. Casmey, Ventilation, 19. These fans are supplied with warm air from the finishing and tentering rooms adjoining.
