'On tenter hooks'?

Question

What does it really mean and where did it come from? And is it 'tender hooks'?
Always wondered.
Thanks

Answer 1

It is Tenter Hooks.

The 'Tenter Hooks' were used to hang cloth out to dry on hillsides after being dyed in the cloth manufacturing process.

There was a lot of agitation when the wind blew through the large lengths of cloth.

Answer 2

It comes from one of the processes of making woollen cloth. The lengths of wet cloth were stretched on wooden frames, and left out in the open for some time. This allowed them to dry and straightened their weave. These frames were the tenters, and the tenter hooks were the metal hooks used to fix the cloth to the frame. Somebody on tenterhooks therefore is someone in an state of anxious suspense, stretched like the cloth on the tenter. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It comes from one of the processes of making woollen cloth. After it had been woven, the cloth still contained oil from the fleece, mixed with dirt. It was cleaned in a fulling mill, but then it had to be dried carefully or it would shrink and crease. So the lengths of wet cloth were stretched on wooden frames, and left out in the open for some time. This allowed them to dry and straightened their weave. These frames were the tenters, and the tenter hooks were the metal hooks used to fix the cloth to the frame.

Answer 4

TENTER hooks
It`s a phrase that stems from the textile trade ,fabric was stretched out and hooked onto pegs to dry.This was called tenter hooking - nowadays machines are used for the same purpose called stenters ,the fabric is run over rollers and pinned out flat and fed through a heated chamber.

Answer 5

Not sure where it comes from, but it means something akin to "waiting with bated breath". It implies a great sense of anticipation and nervousness.

Answer 6

MEANS some on edge or very unsettled where it came from i do not know!

Answer 7

Yep , just try , is spot on !!