tautly

adjective, taut·er, taut·est.

1. tightly drawn; tense; not slack.
2. emotionally or mentally strained or tense: taut nerves.
3. in good order or condition; tidy; neat.

adjective

1. tightly stretched; tense
2. showing nervous strain; stressed
3. mainly nautical in good order; neat

adj.early 14c., tohte, possibly from tog-, past participle stem of Old English teon “to pull, drag,” from Proto-Germanic *tugn, from PIE *deuk- “to lead” (see duke (n.)).