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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.

Straitly, Stratelie, adv. Also: straitlye, -lie, -le, straytly, -lie, straytely, straithly, stratly, -li(e, streightly, streat(h)lie, strytlie, stryitlie. [ME and e.m.E. streitliche (c1290), streitly, streytly (Manning), straytly (Rolle), streyghtly (Trevisa), strately (1535), straitly (1579); Strait adj.]

1. Tightly. 1375 Barb. x 371.
A cruk thai maid … That, fra it in ane kyrneill war, And the ledder thar-fra straitly Strekit, it suld stand sekyrly 1375 Barb. xiii 372.
Relye Your men about ȝow richt straitlye ?1438 Alex. i 2033.
His woundis bled that did him wa Bot he thame band full straitly c1420 Wynt. ii 1313.
In tyll a stede he maid in hy A manere place … And stratly closyd all abowte 1533 Boece 401b.
Binding hir armys stratelie to hir breist

2. a. Urgently. b. Passionately.a. 1607 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxxvii.
We reposeing wpone your Maiestie lyking of him hes mair straitlie urgit him with his former promeisb. c1420 Wynt. ii 1287.
Scho lufyt this best so straytly That scho walde fayne have had copy off hym c1420 Wynt. ii 1610.
Dido … Fra that scho had Eneas sene, … lufyd hym stratly paramoure c1420 Wynt. v 1457.
On ane off thai scho set hyr luwe … And brynt in lust sa stratly That bathe scho sek was and sary

3. Closely, at close quarters. 1611 Black Bk. Taymouth 43.
They … chaissit thame straitlie to the Monthe that lyis betuix Rannoch and Badȝenoch

b. Strately stad, perilously situated; hard pressed. 1375 Barb. vii 216.
The kyng so stratly stad wes thair That he wes neuer ȝeit swa stad 1375 Barb. xiv 377.
Thomas of Dwn … Herd that the host so stratly than Wes stad 1375 Barb. xvii 737.
Thai war within sa stratly stad c1420 Wynt. viii 5611.
Sa straytly stad he was, Othire to dey, or yheld the plas

4. Of swearing an oath, issuing a command, etc.: Strictly, rigorously; without reservation or ambiguity.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2875.
He … gaif stratlie commanding That none to him suld haf entryng 1402 Alnwick Castle Deed.
I ȝe forsayd Howchun oblys me stratly in my gowd fayth 1471–2 Liber Melros II 591.
Stratli 1490 Irland Mir. III 100/3.
This folowand cheptur declaris … how stratlie men ar oblist to keip thar mariage(b) 1398–9 Liber Melros II 489.
And I … obliges me and bindes me fermly trewly and straitly 1417 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 38.
Straitlye c1420 Wynt. i 1507. 1447 Newbattle MSS (Somerville).
Me Henry Wer … be the gret ath sworn straytly tyl be oblysyt tyl ane worchypful lorde that [etc.] 1472 Edinb. Chart. 135.
Straitle a1500 Henr. Fab. 1158.
Schir Scheip, I charge thé straitly to compeir 1532 Douglas Bequest IV 8 June.
[I] straithly be the faitht and treutht in my body bindis and obles me … till ane honorable man [etc.] a1538 Abell 84b.
He … turnit agane to Scotland and straitlie kepit iustice 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 85.
And that sa straitly as thai can be gottin grantit 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 216.
Where she was straytly examined 1596 Dalr. I 339/6.
Quhilk the straytlier to confirme, Henrie gaue him his dauchter Margaret in mariage 1640 Household Bk. M. Stewart 48.
Now the papists are straitly put out in all places without respect within the kingdom 1648 Black Cal. Witchcraft 55/2.
[William Crichtoun] being straitlie posed and dealt with be the ministers and watchers 1659 Cramond Kirk S. I 17 April.
The session having straitlye prohibite thaim to frequent ane anothers companye(c) 1562-3 Winȝet I 121/4.
We all ar maist strytlie commandit in the scriptuiris to be submittit and obedient to the hie pouveris 1562-3 Winȝet I 132/1.
Stryitlie(d) 1576 Douglas Corr. 213.
Streathlie(e) 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 642.
Feet to walk streightly in the wayes of God

b. Of inquiring, investigating, etc.: Thoroughly, exhaustively. 1456 Hay I 207/15.
The Duk of Savoye gerris spere and inquere straytly quha has maid this ref or distres 1456 Hay II 146/35.
God … sall mak interrogacion of all princis dedis of justice straytelyar na of othir mennis dedis; and princis salbe fer sairar punist of thair faultis

c. Of leading one's life: In an austere or spartan manner; with strict observance. a1400 Leg. S. xviii 103.
[Thai] … straytly the lyfe cane leyde Anerly in vatyre & brede

d. Of imprisoning (a person), guarding, watching, besieging (a person or place): Securely; with close attention; so as to deny escape or access.(1) 1375 Barb. xviii 512.
And bad haf him avay in hy, And luk he kepit war stratly c1420 Wynt. i 596.
He prewyde wytht werk-men than thraly Thare in to steke thaim mare straitly c1460 Thewis Gud Women 204.
And ȝhit weil mar suld madenis ȝhinge Be stratly kepit with gret awinge a1500 Seven S. 1050.
Togidder fane thai wald haf bene Bot thai mycht na way cum thairto So stratlie kepit in was scho 1540 Lynd. Sat. Proclam. 166.
Was nevir wyf sa straitly rokkit 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 218.
And efter his cuming he wes keipit with the said Hamiltonis straitlie a1578 Pitsc. I 123/1. c1650 Spalding I 280.
None … could haue privie conferrens of him, so straitlie wes he watchit c1650 Spalding II 291.
He wes straitlie wardit and keipit, be tour … be his capitanes(2) c1420 Wynt. iv 1430.
And stratly gert it kepyt be Fra all profyte and wytale c1420 Wynt. viii 1537.
The wayis thai kepyt sa stratly, That he mycht na way get thaim by 1528 Lynd. Dreme 780.
The countre closit is aboute, full rycht, With wallis hie, of hote and birnyng fyre, And straitly kepit be ane angell brycht 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 104.
This castell wes sa straitlie kepit … that na man gat ische nor entres in the samyn but speciall conduct of the King 1561 Reg. Privy S. V i 222/2.
The said lord keipand the said place trewlie and straitlie 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 19.
That the haill cat bands be put on, and the ports of the toun straitly keipit c1650 Spalding I 127.
The covenanteris now beginis to watche the Kingis castell … moir straitlie nor befoir

e. Of punishing, challenging: Severely, unsparingly. 1375 Barb. xix 60 (C).
Gud schir David the Brechyne Thai gert challans richt stratly syne a1400 Leg. S. xxiii 50.
& Cristine men that come nocht thare, Straytly gert he punyse but mare 1603 Moysie 132.
Some of the inhabitantis of Edinburgh … pairtakeris of that tumult … wer straitlie put at and for non compearance some put to the horne and vtheris wardit

5. Of joining, allying with, binding oneself to (another): Closely, intimately. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1178.
The foxe … gled [etc.] … Quhilk wer confidderit straitlie in ane band Aganis the scheip to procure the sentence 1579 Acts III 166/1.
To be als far and straitlie bund to the kyndlie & natiue tennentis of the ground as ony vther nobilman within this realme 1583 Melvill 160.
Unto the holie peace … and unitie with our nibours, to whase frindschipe we ar joyned sa streatlie, first be bands of religion [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 327/20.
The hartes of the tua kingis straitlie knutt agane throuch beneuolent and true luue 1596 Dalr. II 377/23.
Our peple of France and ȝowr peple of Scotland throuch this mutual coniunctione of mariage … sal be knut straitlie in ane 1638 Nat. Covenant in Facs. Nat. MSS III xcvii.
The true worship of God and the Kings authoritie beeing as straitlie joyned, as that they … did stand and fall together c1650 Spalding I 224.
Who wer lordis of his counsall, straitlie and privatlie bound to our covenanteris be that dulefull clandestyne band and covenant