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: 1801, 1887-1992
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STRAB, n. Also strabe. A stalk of corn that has been missed or broken only by the scythe or reaper at harvest (Abd. 1911 Abd. Weekly Jnl. (20 Jan.); Bnff., Abd. 1971); any odd or loose straw (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.). Deriv. strablach, a loose untidy end, of thread or the like (Mry. 1921 T.S.D.C.).Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1873) 5:
Yer head's just like a heather bush Wi' strabs an' straes.Abd. 1887 R. S. Robertson On Bogie's Banks 78:
We wore nae drabbilt trauchlin' trails tae gaither strabs an' straes.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 128:
If ony skabs [sic] he chanced ta pass, At hint o' hairst he'd ha'e nae lass.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. v.:
Dicht the strabes fae the tail o' yer shafe.Abd. 1945 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 378:
Seekin' some strab o' strae or twa-three faul' O' girss to hap them fae the sypin' caul'.Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 169:
Gathering strabs and opening out sheaves that were sprouting in the bands.
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"Strab n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/strab>
