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.
Strath(e, Straith(e, n. Also: strayth, strayh, stra(e, straisch. [Gael. srath.] A wide river valley, a stretch of relatively flat, fertile land bounded by hills. Freq. in place-names. Also transf. appar. in the name of a game.c1164 Reg. Episc. Glasg. I 22.
Stragrif 1238–9 Cart. Levenax 13.
Cristino de Strathern 1269 Sutherland & Cai. Rec. I 34.
Terras omnes de Strathnavir 1362 Reg. Great S. 35/2.
In baronia de Strathechyn infra vicecomitatum de Kyncardon 1545 Reg. Great S. in Orig. Par. II i 5.
Two marks of Leupenstrath c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 856.
Out throw Straitherne the squyer past c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 230.
Sterne of Stratherne, my ladie soueraneattrib. 1610 Brechin Test. II 102.
xv elnis off Strabogge linninge 1496 Reg. Great S. in Orig. Par. II i 190.
Achranich with le Straith 1549 Soc. Ant. XI 96.
Iniust withhalding of ane strath of gyrs and ane watter fisching … pertenying to the said toun 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI 213/1.
[The lands of Inchedown with the mill and] straisch [thereof … Newmoir and the] straith 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI 214/1.
Silvas et lie straythis de Inchedown 1596 Dalr. I 12/10.
Tha[y] name al thair cuntreyes athir with proper names, or frome the worde strath (quhilke signifies a vallay) conioynet to the nerrest riuer c1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 145.
There is another lands or stra which is called Strayhurr, between this two strais or litle countries Strayhnee and Stradayhie lyes that fresh water logh which is called Loghaick c1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 169.
Glengairie is the next countrie to Loghairgak and there one litle stray betwixt the head of Loghloghie and the other fresh water logh which is called Erigh and this litle strath is one myll of lenth c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 524.
Glenmorisden … hath in it dyvers glenns and straithes, good for cattel ?1663 Old Ross-shire II 52.
The cuntrie is abusit be persones quhich … travell throw the strath [sc. Strathcarron] under silence off night with lead or … louss horses c1680 W. Row Blair 566.
Strathmore … is one of the greatest straths in Scotland 1699 Misc. Hist. Soc. I 383.
Close by Forth watarside, att the foot of Craigmor, betwixt which and the watar there is a strath very proper for walking 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 100.
The valleys, which do ly upon the banks of these rivers and inlets of waters, as they do ascend from the sea to the mountains, are called strathestransf. Urquhart Rabelais (Gargantua) xxii.
At the dales or straths
