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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1499-1699
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Straucht, Straicht, Strat(e, adj. Also: strautht, strawcht, straught, stracht, straight, strech(t, streight, stricht, strait, strayt(h, strek(e. Superl. also strauchest. [ME and e.m.E. streiȝt (c1350), streght, streighte (Chaucer), strayte (Trevisa), streȝt (14th c.), stryȝte (a1420), streit (1475), straight (1535), strayte (1541-2), streck (a1864, north.), OE strecchen to stretch; Strek(e v. Cf. OE stræc, strec rigorous, severe.]
1. Stretched out to (one's, its) full length or extension.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 2680.
[He] him deid fra the sadill draif. Syne straik with straucht arme on the laif ?1438 Alex. ii 4183.
In sterapis straucht [F. estriers afichiés], … Brandissand his speir, he ȝeid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2055.
And still he lay, als straucht as he wer deid(b) a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS 384/12.
Gif ȝe hauld ȝour sale ouir strek Thair may cum bubbis ȝe not suspek
2. Not crooked, devoid of bends or curves. Also comb. with out, up. Also fig.c1400 Troy-bk. i 225.
The stretis ware strautht & wynly maid 15.. Clariodus v 2067.
The goldin traces of his [sc. Apollo's] heid Men might behold straught and lyneall Abone the earth 1596 Dalr. I 133/26.
A bent [= grass stalk] and straucht out wande, in thir dayes called a sceptre a1605 Montg. Sonn. xxxii 2.
The lillie … Vhose staitly stalk so streight vp is and stay 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 217.
The said tymber to be straught and of alsgude lenght as possabillie ther can be hadfig. 16.. Rudiments 3a.
The nominatiue is called straight or richt, the rest are called crooked or crosse
b. Of hair: Straight.a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii 225.
Hayre scho had, quhyt & streke, Rekand na forthire na hir neke
3. Of a course or way: Direct, undeviating. Also in fig. context, and transf.1375 Barb. ii 312.
[Thai] raid, in-till a randoun rycht, The strawcht way towart Meffen c1420 Wynt. viii 7074. c1409-1436 Kingis Quair § 112.
The streight weye thy spirit will I send To the goddesse that clepit is Mynerue a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 847.
This vthere folk with straucht cours hath socht Out of aray atour the larg felld c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxvi 1.
Quhat is this lyfe bot ane straucht way to deid c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxv 35.
Haile, gentill nychttingale; Way stricht, cler dicht to wilsome wicht 1513 Doug. vii viii 36.
Our all the woddis wald he raik ilk day, And at evin tide returne hame the strecht way Till hys lugyng c1520-c1535 Nisbet Acts xxi 1.
Ande quhen it was done, that we suld saile, and war passit fra thame away, with strecht cours we com to Choum 1533 Boece 439b.
Eldrede … moving herefore the strecht way towart Danis 1533 Bell. Livy II 6/30.
To send Icelius brother and Numitorius son … the strauchest way thai mycht to the portis 1544 Longforgan Par. 32.
Strayth 1551 Hamilton Catechism 121.
For as the strecht way to hevin is the rycht keping of thir ten commandis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 23.
Nochtwithstanding, the straucht way sal thou wende To thame quhilk hes the realme in gouernance 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7138.
Straicht 1602 Colville Paraenese 3.
The ampill crookit vayis … hauing sum apperance to be straicht and treu 1632 Protocol Book of R. Glendonwyn 20 June.
From the said dry loch … by ane straight lane to [etc.]transf. a1652 Dickson Psalms I 298.
It is necessary to watch over our severall actions, lest by little and little … we be drawn aside from our walking with a streight foot toward the Gospel
b. (A) straucht line, a direct route.1499 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 429.
Ascendand be stracht line … to the gret Lammyrhillok 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III 197.
That … he keep a straught lyne wastward 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 396.
From the south west part of the said … chop be ane streight lyne to the north west cunyie of the Parliament House
4. Of a mountain, etc.: Steep, precipitous.c1420 Wynt. i 862.
Wytht hyllys hey thir landys ar, And craggys strayt c1420 Wynt. ii 1438.
Thai tyll strayttare heychtys flede 1531 Bell. Boece I 13.
The Scottis … dwelling amang strait and barrant montanis 1533 Boece 583b.
Thai fenȝeit to fle till ane hill strat and cummersum to the ascendaris 1533 Bell. Livy I 218/22.
Thai fled vp throw ane strate montane, and be straitnes thareof made thame to new defence and batall a1540 Freiris Berw. 12 (B).
The castell … , With strait [M. staitlie] towris and turattis he on hicht 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 2/18.
The rauand sauuage volffis of strait montanis ande vyild forrestis c1641–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 528.
b. superl. Of the branches of a tree: Most erect, upright.c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas ii 126/951.
Most like an ancient oake or statly pine … Her heaven-bent bewes must either bow or break, Her straughtest tops are forc't the earth to wound
