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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STRAP, n., v. Also strapp. Sc. usages (see etym. note and Strop, n.¹, v.¹):

I. n. 1. A leather band, a strip of leather used for fastening, beating, etc. Comb. strap-oil, jocularly for a thrashing with a strap, gen. in allusion to the prank of sending a young greenhorn on an errand to a saddler, for strap-oil (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Cf. hazel-oil s.v. Hazel I. 1.Rnf. 1993 History on your Doorstep, The Reminiscences of the Ferguslie Elderly Forum 9:
You got the strap for talking in class. ne.Sc. 1998 Press and Journal 9 Jun 7:
What was school like when you went? Were the teachers scary? Did you get the strap? If you did, was it sore? And, by the way, do you know the answer to question 66? Sc. 2001 Scotsman 24 Jan 3:
From the age of about seven and eight we used to get the strap and it was a horrific experience. You felt that this stranger was violating you for silly things, such as being late for school or not bringing in your homework. And being at a Catholic school, if the teacher found out I wasn't at mass on Sunday I'd get the strap. Sc. 2002 Daily Record 2 Apr 28:
My dad says even if it did happen I am lucky I didn't get the strap, which was what he got at school.

2. Trouser-braces (Cai. 1904 E.D.D., Cai. 1971).

3. A bunch of objects tied together with string or the like, e.g. fish, nuts, beads (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; s.Sc. 1971); a cluster of berries on a bush, esp. currants (Watson).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality x.:
They winna string the like o' him up as they do the puir Whig bodies like straps o' onions.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 201:
Merton Mill, where I caught a large strap of large trouts.

4. The band of corn-stalks used to tie up a sheaf at harvest (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 439, strapp; Ayr. 1923 Wilson D. Burns 188; Ayr., sm.Sc. 1971; Arg. 1990s).Rnf. 1773 Sc. Farmer I. 490:
If the sheaf is bound too near the bottom for the purpose, the farmer first of all draws up the strap a little towards the crop end.Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 68:
Providence did bless the seed, Sae brought it forth unto the strap.Ayr. 1949 J. Barr Lang Syne 14:
The holidays always fell at harvest time for the boys were to make “straps” — a now almost forgotten art.

5. See quot.Knr. 1825 Jam.:
Straps — Ends of thread from the dish-clout sometimes found in victuals.

6. A strip of wood serving as a base or ground to which something else may be nailed, e.g. lath or panellng in a wall, battening, furring (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 943). Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1813 J. Cleland Specifications Magdalenes Asylum 16:
Battered with straps two by three quarters of an inch, placed not more than thirteen inches apart.Arg. 1895 Justiciary Reports 528:
The lining was laid flat against the wall, and was secured to the wall by dooks and straps, the dooks being pieces of wood driven into the wall, and the straps being attached to them.

7. Short for Black-strap, q.v., black treacle, molasses (Abd. 1904 E.D.D.; Bnff., Abd., Ags., Per. 1971). See also Strop, n.²

II. v. 1. To put in sequence on a string, to string together, tie up in a bunch, of fish, beads, etc. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slg., Fif., Lth., Lnk., Wgt. 1971).

2. To tie up for the gallows, to hang, sometimes with up; also pass., to be hanged.Sc. 1815 Lockhart Scott xxxv.:
The trials of the poor plaids who were strapped up at Carlisle.Slk. 1835 Hogg Tales (1874) 549:
The other prevailing party did not think it worth their while to defend him, and so the fellow strapped.Sc. 1847 Tait's Mag. (July) 458:
Strap him up to the gallows tree. He shall either marry our daughter, mickle-mouthed Meg, or he shall strap for it.

3. To strengthen or fix with a strip or stay of metal. Gen.Sc.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.:
Carrying a plough beam, which he wanted the smith to “strap.”

4. To fix strips of wood on a wall as a ground for lath (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen.Sc. Hence strapping, wood used for this purpose, furring (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 943). Gen.Sc. Cf. I. 6.Gsw. 1813 J. Cleland Specifications Magdalenes Asylum 17:
Strapped for lath in the same manner as the walls.Lnk. 1897 W. G. Black Parochial Eccles. Law (1901) 372:
If it is lathed and strapped the inner surface would still be damp.Sc. 1938 St Andrews Cit. (12 Feb.) 11:
Strapping, lathing and plastering.

5. See quot. Hence strapper.Dmb. 1969:
To strap is to coil wet dyed cloth in a twisted rope state into a barrow to be removed for further processing. An employee who does this is a strapper.

6. To barter, to exchange with eyes shut or hands closed over the article of barter, to swop (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C.).

7. As in Eng., chiefly dial.: to groom (a horse). Hence strapper, a horse-groom (see 1968 quot.). Gen. (exc. I.) Sc. Also attrib.Abd. 1838 Hatton Estate MSS.:
In the event of my letting the Coach Stable to Coach Contractors they shall only have as a Strapper there, a person of a respectable character.Arg. 1912 N. Munro Ayr. Idylls (1935) 255:
At every reputable tavern on the road from Glasgow, Johnson debated points of politics or faith in Scots with strappers.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 127:
He asked o' the strapper loon.Abd. 1968 Huntly Express (30 Aug.) 7:
The strapper was the lad who tended the farmer's pony, washed the gig, yoked and unyoked the pony when his master drove abroad; and used whatever spare time he had in doing odd jobs on the farm.