Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STRIDE, v., n. Sc. forms and usages:
I. v. As in Eng. Pa.t. strade (e.Lth. 1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 77; Kcb. 1836 J. Mayne Siller Gun 16; Ags. 1894 A. Reid Songs 65; Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 188; Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae' 'Oo 28; Sh., ne.Sc., Ayr., Rxb. 1971), straid (Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 83). Pa.p. stridden (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 208).
Deriv. strider, anything of a bifurcated or Y shape, specif. in hand-line fishing: a piece of wire or whale-bone so shaped, to the ends of which snuids and hooks can be attached (Ags. 1911); a forked stick for a child's catapult (Slg. 1971).
II. n. 1. As in Eng., the setting apart of the legs in walking, riding, etc. Combs. (1) strideleg, now more commonly -legs, -leygs (Cai.), astride, as in sitting on a horse (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc.; ¶(2) stride-ride, id.(1) Kcd. 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (1887) 13:
Strideleg o'er a cask o' ale.Edb. 1828 W. Roughead Burke and Hare (1921) 168:
He then got stride-legs on the top of the woman on the floor.n.Sc. 1840 D. Sage Memorabilia (1889) 121:
I threw myself stride-legs across his back.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 46:
Stride-legs on a cannon-ball.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xiii.:
The lass wha can tame a wild stallion and ride him stride-leg like a man.Cai. 1934 John o' Groat Jnl. (25 Oct.):
A'm stride-leygs on's back.Abd. 1966 Huntly Express (1 April) 2:
Tell's aboot this deem sittin' stridelegs on the horse!(2) Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 94:
Auld Winter, stride-ride owre the riggin.
¶2. The fork or crutch of the body.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 176:
I'm new come frae Dumbarton-side, . . . An' am as sair, about the stride, As gin I had the gravel.
‡3. In pl. . trousers (Arg. 1958). Also in Eng. dial. and slang.Lnk. 1889 A. G. Murdoch Readings III. 26:
His two legs which were encased in a pair of all but skin-tight strides.Gsw. 1910 H. Maclaine My Frien' 24:
I'd buckle up my strides and ma mither would never ken.
