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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Stri(c)k, Strict, adj. Also: stricke, strickt, streke, stract, straict. [e.m.E. strict, stryckt (1578), strickt (1580), stricte (1611), f. as Strait adj.]

1. Severe, unsparing; punitive. a. Of justice, punishment, sentences, rulings, etc. Also transf., of the manner of punishment. b. Of persons.Cf. Strait adj. 5.a. 1657 Balfour Ann. I 261.
The King … imprissons the Earle of Bothuell … and at last, by strick sentence, exyles him the kingdome 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 567.
The act of Parliament seimes … to be verie strick against takers of annualrent before the terme(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 373 (Asl.).
Quha euer ȝit had coniunit in a persoun … Streke iustice mixt with compacienstransf. 1643 Ellon Presb. 160.
Isobell Paull to be punishit in hir bodie efter the strickest manerb. 1613 Aberd. Council Lett. I 119.
Ȝour commissioner wes carfuil (?) and sumquhat strik 1646 Baillie II 399.
And if they had been so stricke, it seemed just to have dealt so in … Edinburgh, whose fault … wes much greater than Glasgow's 1678 Essay Inscr. Macduff's Crosse 16.
Neither were the Bruce's too strick and severe in their forfaultours

c. Of a set of circumstances: Characterized by severity; unsparing in its effect (upon people). 1698 Inverness Kirk S. 40.
The Session haveing considered the condition of the poor inhabitants in this hard and strick tymes of famine, ordered [etc.]

2. Of an act, order, regulation, etc.: Stringently worded; precise, unambiguous; that requires to be literally interpreted or followed to the letter. = Strait adj. 6. Also transf., of the manner or form in which something is carried out. 1549 Compl. 8/27.
The Gymniosophistes institut ane mair strict ordinance 1609 Crim. Trials II 596.
That the politicke courses … are not to be ruled according to the strick rules of Divinitie 1610 Calderwood VII 80.
To our purpose anent definitiouns in generall. I may say this one word, they are verie kittle in their strict lawes … and furnishe als oft mater of contentioun as the light they promise 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 257.
Our commoun lands and fishings … ar fewit to gild burgesses … with verie strict conditiones and irritant clauses 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I 273.
Thair is a great number … ignorant of the strict words tennor and conditioun of the act 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 191.
Yit, with exceiding travell maid by the freinds of Argyle, and many strick conditions granted by Macklain to Anglis 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 49.
The tennor of the acte of Perths assemblie, wich contineth no stricke iniunction 1663 Conv. Burghs III 565.
Being informed that the draught of ane act of parliament against transportatioun of money wes presented to the lordis of exchequer, and that the said act contained many strick claussis … [thay] appointis Sir Alexander Wedderburne [etc.] … to draw up ane new act against the transportatioun of money in the strickest forme they can 1668 Edinb. B. Rec. X 51.
The Counsell … [will] give doune the rate of excyse upon brandie … provyding ther be ane strick certificatione in the said act that what brandie shall be apprehended … shall be escheit without favour 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 430.
Strick 1669 Jus Populi 69.
The observation of the strick letter of the law 1673 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 118.
Thes ar giving you str[i]ck order to cary the person of Mr. Robert Gelespie … to the tolbuth [etc.] 1679 Edinb. B. Rec. X 367.
Notwithstanding of all the strick proclamations for keeping the guaird [etc.]transf. 1642 Inverness Rec. II 180.
In the maist strick and legall maner that can best be thoucht vpoun 1663 Conv. Burghs III 565 (see above). 1685 Elgin Rec. I 336.
They ar most willing in the strickest manner to subscrywe ane obligatione 1698 Lanark B. Rec. 266.
The forsaids laues will be put to most strick and vigorous execution(b) 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
Ane letter of assedacioun … of the said landis … with sufficiently and lauchfully & stractest & sykirest forme

3. Of actions, proceedings, etc.: Harsh, repressive. = Strait adj. 7. 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 219.
If there be not a more strick course takne for observance of that court, men shall give over persewing any thing before them(b) 1591–2 Warrender P. (SHS) II 168.
For taking straict and speadye ordour with thir lait conspiracies and obviating … a more daingerouse sequele we ar resolved to … enquyre more narrowlye in the actiouns of sic as ar … suspect

4. Rigorous; maintained without laxness or relaxation: a. Of imprisonment. Also transf. b. Of guard duty, or (exercise of) discipline. = Strait adj. 7 b.a. 1643–4 Lennoxlove MS (The Duke of Hamilton) C1/1841.
My empresonment is strickter then you can imaginetransf. 1646 Spottiswoode Misc. I 220.
Ogilby's escape occasioned [them] to be confined in so strick a manner that even their nearest friends … were discharged accessb. c1630 Scot Narr. 63.
If the Presbytry should be negligent then the Synod was to see to it [sc. heresy]; if it had not been then suppressed, the Generall Assembly had taken strick order concerning it 1669 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 327.
And for seeing to mor strick exerceise of disciplin ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 6.
That they [the soldiers] should keepe stricke watche and warde 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 329 marg.
Act anent keepeing of strick gairds be the nighbours

c. Of a religious order or manner of living: Austere. c1615 Chron. Kings 9.
He also caussit the ȝounge men to leiff a strick lyffe 1622-6 Bisset II 106/21.
[The Essenes] leved in wyldernes eftir a … straitter maner of leving than the mounkis in cloisteris thereftir did be there preceise and strik ordouris of mennis traditionis

5. Of a person, or the manner in which he discharges his duties: Scrupulous; conscientious. 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 282.
He ather that did wreit Whiche he thought good to teache Or priuat did premeditat Or publick pray or preache; Into his charge discharge, Strick, painfull and preeceis 1619 Sel. Biog. I 73.
Some subscribed without any condition roundly, and made no moats of it: others, somewhat more strict, would add the condition, according to God's word

b. Of an account: Exactly rendered. = Strait adj. 8. 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 110.
If I discharge not anie dewtie I am and aught to have ane strick accompt asked of me

6. Unwavering in adherence to the principles or practice implied by the noun qualified. 1669 Jus Populi 18.
No law or act, when the strik observation thereof, tendeth to the detriment of the Republick … is of force 1669 Jus Populi 154.
The soveraigne in cases of necessity, may neglect the strick observation of the letter of the lawes 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 438.
We see few of the straightest and strickest professors bettered by it a1689 Cleland 12.
And as their strick observers say, A tupe horn fill'd with usquebay

7. a. Of examination, scrutiny: Detailed, thorough. b. Of interest (in something): Strongly-felt, sincere.a. 1651 Comm. Gen. Assembly III 468.
Your nigh and strick interest in us will not permitt yow to hyde your eyes from our sadd conditionb. 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 177.
The Kings Maiestie and the Committee of Estaites … being desyrous … to looke vpone the said paper with that stricke inquyrie 1661 S. Ronaldshay 35.
Be … the minister his coming and stricke examining of her befoir many conveaned nighbours … [she] was brought to confessione

8. Of friendship: Close, intimate. = Strait adj. 8. 1558 Laing MSS 75.
The straict frendschip was sumtyme … betuene your Lordship and my … brother 1586-7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 109.
The sincere observation of our so straict freyndship could not permit ws to be oversene … in a matter of so great weght 1588 Warrender P. (SHS) II 82.
The straict freindship which formerly bound you to my late brother 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 242.
Princes and estates standing with us in straict amitye and freindship

9. Effective, efficient. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 258.
And it is observable that at the strickest rate he carried the arching that yeare at bowmarks and rovers, gaining the silver arrow, of all the collidgeners there