Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1814-1832, 1927, 1986
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STRAUCHTEN, v. Also strauchen (Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 121, Ags. 1895 J. Inglis Oor Ain Folk 73; ne.Sc. 1971), strachten (Edb. 1881 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) III. 20; Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden (1922) 123), straughten (Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 158, Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 189); straichten (Cai. 1961 “Castlegreen” Tatties an' Herreen' 16; ne.Sc. 1971), strech(t)en (Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 428; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); streechten (Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 183). [′strɑx(t)ən, ′strǫx(t)-, ′strɛ(t)-]
1. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. straighten. wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 21:
Na, nearer nor that. No faur frae the door somewhaur. I ken! It's whaur Sandy MacMillan was tryin to strauchten a crookit swee.
2. To straighten the limbs of a corpse, to lay out a dead body (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Ags., Dmb., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1971). Hence straightning deal, the board on which a corpse is laid out.Sc. 1814 J. Train Mountain Muse 13:
When a Highlander dies, the corpse being stretched on a board called the Straightning Deal, and covered with coarse linen, the friends place a wooden platter on the breast of the dead person, containing a small quantity of salt, separately from an equal quantity of earth.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 513:
She'll make a gruesome and unsonsie corse. It will be a deft hand that can straughten her.Slg. 1832 Fife Herald (20 Sept.):
Mrs Dick was then sent for to assist in straightening the corpse.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood ii.:
I've strauchten'd the corp.
3. To apply a second, smoothing coat in plastering. Hence straightening, a second coat of plaster (Sc. 1946 Spons' Pract. Builders' Pocket Bk. 442).
[See note to Straucht.]
