a. That is laced tightly; having the laces drawn tight; wearing stays tightly laced; constricted or compressed by tight-lacing.
1741. [see b].
1828. Lights & Shades, II. 132. The tight-laced spark of fashion, with his hat on one side.
1860. W. G. Clark, in Vac. Tour., 43. We saw … the belles of the island,… with … tight-laced black bodices.
1871. Figure Training, 106. May I add a little practical information … on the health of tight-laced ladies?
1905. H. D. Rolleston, Dis. Liver, 11. Tight-laced livers are often associated with dyspepsia.
b. fig. Strict in the observance of rules or usages of morality or propriety. (Usually dyslogistic.)
1741. Richardson, Pamela, I. Introd. 26. He made a too tight-laced Objection, where he quarrels with the spann’d Waist of Pamela.
1831. T. L. Peacock, Crotchet Castle, vi. Even in these tight-laced days, the obscurity of a learned language allows a little pleasantry.
1844. Alb. Smith, Adv. Mr. Ledbury, liv. (1886), 164. Etiquette is not over tight-laced upon the mountains.
1881. Larwood, Lond. Parks, xiv. 282. This somewhat tight-laced gentleman was greatly shocked.
