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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.

Strait, v. Also: straitt, straite. P.t. also stretit. P.p. also stratit, -ed, streattit, streighted. [ME and e.m.E. strait (Rolle), streit-, streyte (Wyclif), strayght- (1534), straight- (1579-80); Strait adj.]

1. tr. To make narrower, reduce in breadth (a road, etc.). 1617 Acts IV 536/2.
The saidis commissionaris … sall call before thame all suche persones as sall straite these passages or vther wayes by casting of ditches and fusies throche the same 1672 Oliphants 256.
He cannot be forced to doe otherways the march beeing already streighted

2. To restrict, constrain. 1582 Edgar Old Church Life 190.
Concerning such elders … thair resort to the presbytrie shall be no farther straitit but as the weightinesse and occasion … shall require a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 40.
It was ansuerit … that thay war na mair debtfull to shaw thair obedience to the king [etc.] … And tharefore thay sould not be sa straittit or trappit … unto the tyme that [etc.] a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 194.
Geve the king sall confes him self to be straittit and constraynit, ather in his bodie, auctoritie, libbertie, or dispositioun of his person, besyd his accustumat use [etc.] a1599 Rollock Wks. I 363.
I lay this necessitie befoir thee, and I strait thee, and I bind thee to this ministerie 1638 Baillie I 156.
The tyme straited us, we might not enter in reasoning 1670 Aberd. Council Lett. V 50.
Ane warrand to the schirreff and messengers to apprehend our neighbouris straitted as pairtners untill they sett securitie for ther appirrance

b. To be restricted in terms of choice, forced to choose. 1633 Johnston Diary I 110.
Being straited by God (as I thought) betuixt three unsupportable burdens

3. a. To afflict, oppress, apply pressure to; to punish.(1) 1594 Highland P. I 186.
My Lord Argyll had straitit him verie sore about a band 1594–5 Cal. Sc. P. XI 555.
[They … will seek some private friendship of the Queen of England to] beare them out [if they be] straitet 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XII 9.
[At this time being somewhat more] strated [nor I looked for] as one compelled to his] azill [I seek to your protection and refuge] 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I 204.
Your Majestie does strait me verie hardlie a1634 Forbes Rec. 382.
Finding themselffs … thus on every syde hardlie straitted 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 31.
The fault of the tumult sould never lye on the toune of Edinburgh, for they wer straited, they could take them by the hand that encouraged them to it(2) 1592 Cal. Sc. P. X 709.
It is thocht that the Laird Johnstone salbe straittit for this caws 1594 Warrender P. (SHS) II 250.
Quhidder the deponar or Ardkinglas him self wer first stratit be tortour anent Cadellis murthur

b. To force, compel (a person) (to do, also, to) something.(1) 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 95.
Thow forsiblie stretit hir be hir aitht, nevir to reveill [etc.] 1605 Aberd. B. Rec. II 272.
Giwe the magistrattis … be streattit be the authoritie to mak payment 1609 Acts IV 406/2.
Thair parentis … salbe straitit to find cautioun 1612 Breadalbane Doc. No. 404.
Incaice he wer straitit to send men forder nor his awin boundis 1614 Highland P. III 168.
He can not be straitit to dischearge the tennentis bot at his awine pleasoure 1654 Glasgow B. Rec. II 301.
The towne is now straitit to pay all the moneys they can affoord to his creditors(2) 1646 Moray Synod 73.
Mr. George Hannay confessed he hade subscriued the Marquess of Huntlyes divisiue band being straited therunto

c. specif. To press (a person) for (payment of) money. Also, ? to fine, ? tax.(1) 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 603.
Thay ar so straited by the creditouris, being not onlie denuncit and put to the horne, bot also thair landis comprised, so that thay ar broght to extrame miserie a1650 Row 210.
That the cautioners of such as are suspected in religion be straited, conforme to their band a1651 Calderwood VII 584.
When the day came he had not the money in readiness; his partie straited him with extremitie of the law(2) 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V 191.
Provyding thai straitt nane of thair honest nichtbouris for the principall sowmes 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V 543.
For payment quhairof he is schortlie to be putt at and straited 1608 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 230.
I ressauit your letter concerning that money that ye say ye ar straitit for presentlie 1613 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 340.
He was detained in the tolbooth, and fined £200, for payment quhairof he is verie hardlie straitit and put at(3) 1678 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 134.
All such as are constant leavers in Aberdein and have a benefite … of brewing their own ale ther and prejudge the excyse they may be straitted and especially if they bear no burthen elswher

d. passive. To be at a loss, in a dilemma. Also const. with (something), to be in dire straits, afflicted, distressed because of or due to the lack of (something).(1) 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 595.
[I … find myself] strated [for the king … charges me to undertake that service as the only thing whereby I can please him] a1599 Rollock Wks. I 429.
I am straited quhidder to live in the flesche, or to gang out of the bodie 1607 Reg. Privy S. VII 344.
Albeit Mr. Nicolsone … came … that day when they … were most straitted, yet neither wovld he promise to extract the act for them, nor … wuld he tell them the contents(2) 1590 Warrender P. (SHS) II 140.
Yf perhapps ye be so straitit with tyme that convenientlye ye may not go be Denmarke 1598–9 Reg. Privy C. V 530.
To the supporte and help of quhatsomevir want or inlaik his Majestie salbe maist urged and straited with for the tyme 1605 Misc. Spald. C. II 149.
To acquaint your Majesty with all our proceedingis and present difficulteis, quhairwith we ar straitit 1622 Haddington Mem. II 141.
Being strated with his goodfatheris debts 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 93.
Straited with there own necessities, they were dressed large promises of … rewards for service to be done 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 251.
Gif ye sie other burrowes payand thair ordinar taxt and that ye be strated thairwith, ye sall use your moyen to borrow 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 461.
Being straited and strest with extreme necessitie 1633 Orkney Witch Trial in Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. V 545.
Scho and hir haill famillie was straitit with drouth a1634 Forbes Rec. 422.
His refuisall to answer some things proponed be them, quhairwith he fand himselff straited 1644 Spalding II 502.
I saw my self sore straited with an appearing necessitie of sinning and giving of offence

e. To defeat militarily; to subjugate. c1610 Melville Mem. 31.
The Paipe tok occasion haistely till compon with the Collonnois, wha finding themselues lyk to be straited … gaif the Paipe part of his desyres 1614 Highland P. III 149.
The cuntrie people be whoes assistance he might … haue straited the rebels … will rather … disobey the proclamation nor losse the cornes whairvpon thay … must leive 1625 Garden Kings 9.
Balus … To sack and spoile my province I represt: … Himselfe I urg'd and straited so, That he became his proper Burreo 1644 Baillie II 201.
The most did think … Newcastle and King … would quickly gather ane armie, and strait us

4. intr. To be a cause of trouble or hardship. ? 1640 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 28.
And now they would begin a treatie when the publique affaires doe strait more and the burden of keeping men together

5. tr. To stretch. = Strek(e v. 1. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxii 67.
Unto the crose … To gar his lymmis langar wax; Thai straitit him with all thair strenth