Stiffen

[Sarah]

To become stiff or stiffer, in any sense of the adjective.Like bristles rose my stiffening hair. Dryden.The tender soil then stiffening by degrees. Dryden.Some souls we see, Grow hard and stiffen with adversity. Dryden.

[Sarah]

To stiffen someone means to give someone a right good beating so they are stiff in the morning. If you stiffen someone they won't know what's hit them. Said to have originated in Glasgow, Scotland.

[Merna]

Make or become stiff or rigid.