Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STRAG, n.2 Also stragg. [strɑg]
I. n. 1. A thin-growing, straggly crop, as of corn (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 439; Lnk. 1971); also fig. of thin wispy hair (Gall. a.1813 A. Murray Hist. Eur. Langs. (1823) I. 276).Kcb.4 1900:
A bald man with only a fringe of hair left is said to “hae but a stragg o' hair.”
2. A vagabond, a roaming person (Dmb., Lnk. 1971); a loose woman (Dmf. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Kcb. 1900 Crockett Stickit Minister's Wooing 326:
All the strags and restless ne'er-do-weels.
3. A stray pigeon (m. and s.Sc. 1971). Also in n.Eng. dial.Fif. 1932 M. Bell Pickles & Ploys 44:
Auld Purdie's doos are a' strags tae!
4. A casual labourer, specif. at Leith docks (Fif., Lth. 1971).
5. An odd job, an errand (Edb. 1971).Edb. 1949:
To gae one's strags — to do one's shopping.
II. v. To stray, straggle, in agent n. stragger, a straggler (Slk. 1825 Jam.).
[Reduced form of Eng. straggle, or in I. 2–5., straggler.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Strag n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/strag_n2>