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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Stricknes, Strictness, n. Also: strickness(e. [e.m.E. stricktnesse (1578), strictnesse (1602), -nes (1604); Stri(c)k adj.]

1. Severity (in treatment of others); stringency (of laws). 1629 Boyd Last B. 119.
The Law of God is of a great stricknesse 1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II 170.
Wee learned how oure nichtboures wer wardit … quhat informatioun hes beine given against thame which moved this stricknes wee cannot learne 16.. Herries Mem. 113.
Queen Elizabeth … seemed much inraged … and … tooke occasion to use Queen Marie with more stricknes 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 421.
The great prejudice to traid … that hes occurred … notwithstanding of the stricknes of the act in the last parliament 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 50.
This strictness especially in their severity against their enemies may be accused of Jewish rigidity, inconsistent with a gospel spirit of lenity

2. Inflexibility, stubbornness (of attitude or principles). 1638 Baillie I 84.
Reasons were given out … why upon no termes it was possible for us to passe from any poynt … which we had sworne and subscribed. … This our strickness stopped the proponing of a surrender, or altering of any thing in the write 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 17.
That he seimed to me to personate Mr. Douy not only in his wisage but also in his strickness and bigotry 1688 Elegie Death James Renwick 5.
But eminent among all Zions mourners … For strickness due (he'd not a hoof surrender)

3. Closeness, degree of proximity (to something). 1648 Misc. Maitl. C. II 465.
The one [party] … so engaged to the churche that, without apparent prejudice to them both, can not devyde, and therfor oblidged to ane greater stricknes of combinatione