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.
Straitnes, n. Also: strayt(t)-, strat-, streight-, stret-. [ME and e.m.E. straytnes (Rolle), streytnesse (Wyclif), streitness (Chaucer), streitenes (Trevisa), straitness (1586); Strait adj.]
1. Narrowness; inaccessibility; ruggedness of terrain.1375 Barb. xii 430.
Bot quhethir it wes Throu the gret stratnes of the plas That thai war rad till byd fichting 1531 Bell. Boece I 46.
The Scottis … fled to the montanis; and debaitit thair miserabill liffis, be straitnes of the ground [L. locorum asperitate] 1531 Bell. Boece I 80.
The Romanis wil be sa irkit be straitnes of your craggis, montanis, or marressis 1533 Bell. Livy I 218/22.
Thai fled vp throw ane strate montane, and be straitnes thareof made thame to new defence and batall a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 263.
Becaus Maxwell was alreddie set doun in the first place, Mortoun sat down nixt him, becaus he could nather cum by him for straytnes of the place, nather above him for lack of rowme c1615 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 236.
The bookes … by the streightnes and inconveniencie of the roome cannot be exposed to readines of use and search
2. Strictness, severity, rigour.a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 406.
In honest conuersacione & stratnes of relygione c1420 Wynt. iv 1950.
The reule off resowne, nevyrtheles, Sall ye noucht lede in that straytnes 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 87.
I am not ane that think it always gude to use extreme straitnes of law 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 184.
Great straitnes ve find heir in counselours 1587 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 136.
Geve straytnes be wsit, her majeste wilbe pressit therto bye her awyne naturall 1593 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 97.
For fear of the straitnes of my lauis 1600 Glasgow B. Rec. I 211.
And as tuiching the try and stretnes of our comburgessis to get sic easy compositioune as possibill
3. Severe distress, hardship, troubles or want.1571 Cal. Sc. P. IV 7.
[I was commanded to seek money to pay the men of war] … being in syk strayttnes off serwice that the wantt off mony wald caws tham to cry owtt 1590 James VI in Douglas Corr. 34.
Althocht the straitness of this tyme sa occupies me with affaires as I can neuer obtayne ane idle houre, yet in the uerrie middes thairof I am compellid … to uritte to you 1623 Elgin Rec. II 178.
To incres … ther charitie at the brod to the poor in respect of the straitnes of the yeer
4. Constraint; (narrow) confinement.c1420 Wynt. i 578 (W).
Quhare Gog and Magog … Inclusit were in gret straitnes 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6906.
This lady tuik greit heuines, That scho was sa haldin in sic straitnes 1596 Dalr. II 306/5.
Huntlei gyues ansuer constantlie outher conforme to his captiuitie, and straytnes as he was haldne in this mater
