1. stretched or pulled tight; not slack: "the fabric stays taut without adhesive"Similartighttightly stretchedstretchedrigidstressednot slacknot looseOppositeslackloose
▪ (of a ship) having a disciplined and efficient crew:"his language was salty and he ran a taut ship"Similarorderlyin orderin good orderin good conditiontighttrimneatwell orderedwell regulatedwell disciplinedtidysprucesmartshipshape (and Bristol fashion)
Word OriginMiddle Englishtought ‘distended’, perhaps originally a variant of tough.