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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.

Straiten, Streighten, v. Also: stra(i)tn-. P.p. also straithned, stret(e)ned. [e.m.E. streyten (1523), streyghten (1552), straighten (1604), straiten (1611); Strait adj.]

1. a. To narrow, reduce the breadth of (a passage, etc.). b. To reduce, diminish.a. c1614–54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 513.
Two bays meat nearhand ther, and streighten the land
1683 Reid Gard'ner's Kal. 12.
Destroy wasps, straiten the passag by putting on the hecks to secure from robers
b. 1654 Fam. Innes 176.
This stratnes the accomodatione of the house so that I have no rowmes alowed me

2. To cause to feel cramped or confined. 1650 Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. X 116.
[The laird] to have libertie to inlarg his dask becaus he was stretened by the little roume
1661 Bk. Carlaverock II 157.
I ame so stretned in my new goun that I can not writt my self

3. To narrow or restrict the freedom, power or privileges of (a person). 1653 Binning Wks. (1735) 233.
Was it the satisfaction of his justice that straitned him and put a necessity of this upon him?
a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 171.
In these the Lord hath not streightened them, neither hath he pinched and pinned them up to absolute necessity, but hath left them to walk by Christian prudence

4. To inconvenience (a person) by inadequate supply of something. 1671 Edinb. Surgeons II 77.
And in respect they were straitned with tyme … they could not have tyme to read the same
1678 Hay Fleming Six Saints II 37.
Some spoke to him that he preached and pray'd short. Why do you straiten us so much for shortness
1699 Minnigaff Par. Rec. 18.
The Session, being straitned in time, could not distribute the poors money at the time
1715 Rothesay Par. Rec. 305.
The minister reports that being ordinarly straitened for convenient tables when he had the sacrament in this place

5. To hamper, impede; to inflict difficulties on, harass (a person). 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 202.
Ye are not so much straitned with that effair as with the valuatione
1691 Presbyterian Inquisition 37.
I ordered the janitor to treat the said Mr. Inglish with all civility and discretion, and not to straiten him
1697 Renfrewshire Witches 165.
That we are not straitened in this because there are many other articles proven
a1714 Cromartie Corr. II 477.
Lord Lovat … straithned also with the exigence of his people's danger

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"Straiten v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/straiten>

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