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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.

Strak(e, Straik(e, n.² Also: stroack. [ME and e.m.E. strak (1330-1), strake (1334-5), streake (1565), straike (north., 1587), f. as Strek(e v.]

1. A strip of iron, esp. as covering for the outer rim of a cartwheel.In the quot. 1618 M. Works Acc., double may be erron. for doull (for further examples of doule strakis see Doul(e n.). 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 515.
To the smyth of the New Havin for x stane of doule straikis to the said quhelis 1515–16 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 299.
[Making 4] lie straikis [of iron for] lie extreis [4 d.] 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 105.
For … some double straikes … to … tua pair of quheillis

2. A stripe. 1509 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. II 275.
The armes of the Symsonis … The feilde is of asure The crescentis of siluer The thortword straik and dracht of the samyn colour as the drachtis of the scheilde is of [etc.]

b. The mark of a blow; a weal; ? a scar. 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 226.
I helpit Thome Hendersone to slay ane kow, and I saw divers blay straikis one hir back and hanch banes 1609 Ellon Presb. 80.
Saw the weds and bluidie and bla straiks on hir body 1619 Brechin Kirk S. 10 Aug.
That ane called Smyth with ane straik in his face was thair

3. A length of the planking along the side of a vessel; the breadth of such a plank as a unit of vertical measurement in a vessel's side. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 95.
Debursit … upoune the hichting of the kingis grace bote ane straik of buirdis 1641 Glasgow B. Rec. I 435.
That … ilk slayer boate have tua straikes above and ilk couper ane or mair as they sall think fitting 1662 Hossack Kirkwall 375.
[To build] ane great boat of … threttie foot of keel, with six stroack of oack round about

4. A strip (of water). a1578 Pitsc. I 336/14.
Ane great fowsie and strak of watter