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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.

(Streke,) Streik, Streek, Stretch, Streitche, Streach, n. [e.m.E. stretch (1541); Strek(e v.]

1. a. The horizontal extent or stretch (of a coal seam). b. The course or direction in which something stretches, in relation to the points of the compass.a. 1672 Sinclair Hydrostaticks 259.
[Characteristics of coal seams] as their dipps, and rise, and streek 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World xxxv.
A large discourse anent coal … dipps, risings and streeks of coal, levels, running of mines [etc.]b. 1672 Sinclair Hydrostaticks 268.
All which is a course, which in streek lyes near to SW and NW … From thence the course of the coal turns [etc.] 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 220.
The streik of the harbour in, is north northeast, and out south southwest

2. An act or action exceeding the scope of one's authority, or the bounds of justice; an unfair or prejudiced (line of) argument. 1660 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 53.
I gave you account … of the large opportunity I had with his majesty to clear you from all mistakes and aspersions … and the king is sensible the stretches came from the overbearing sway of those men 1689 Leven & Melv. P. 319.
Mr. Aird, who is represented as a man of great piety, and turned out by a streach 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 6.
The parliaments thus corrupted … establish wicked laws pressing conformity. And in the very first of them, made such a streach, beyond all bounds of charity … or humanity, that they made all addresses … reflecting on such proceedings to be criminal 1707 Dunkeld Presb. II 293.
This proceeds not from conscience of guilt, or fear, but to assert the just rights of mankind and of ministers, and to prevent illegal stretchs

b. An unwarranted exercise of power, or straining of the law or one's authority (beyond what is acceptable). 1689 Acts XII 64/2.
The causeing perseu and forfault severall persones upon streitches of old & absolute lawes 1690 Shields Enquiry Ch. Communion 69.
This was indeed a stretch of Erastian supremacy, and a yoke that could not be submitted to

3. A difficult situation, dilemma. = Strait n. 6 a. 1699 Proper Project for Scotland 57.
To what a pittyful pass and puzling streach are we come, that we cannot get ten faithful creditable monyed men in all Scotland of undoubted integrity