(originally called a tenter) is as old as the textile industry itself. The term originates from the Latin tendere, meaning “to stretch.” In the medieval era, after fabric was woven and washed, it would shrink unevenly. To solve this, weavers used large wooden frames placed outdoors, known as tenter frames. The fabric was attached to these frames using sharp “tenter hooks” to ensure it dried flat, square, and at the correct width. This is actually the origin of the English phrase “to be on tenterhooks,” meaning to be in a state of tension