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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STRAUCHTEN, v. Also strauchen (Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 121, Ags. 1895 J. Inglis Oor Ain Folk 73; ne.Sc. 1971), strachten (Edb. 1881 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) III. 20; Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden (1922) 123), straughten (Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 158, Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 189); straichten (Cai. 1961 “Castlegreen” Tatties an' Herreen' 16; ne.Sc. 1971), strech(t)en (Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 428; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); streechten (Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 183). [′strɑx(t)ən, ′strǫx(t)-, ′strɛ(t)-].

1. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. straighten. wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 21:
Na, nearer nor that. No faur frae the door somewhaur. I ken! It's whaur Sandy MacMillan was tryin to strauchten a crookit swee.

2. To straighten the limbs of a corpse, to lay out a dead body (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Ags., Dmb., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1971). Hence straightning deal, the board on which a corpse is laid out.Sc. 1814 J. Train Mountain Muse 13:
When a Highlander dies, the corpse being stretched on a board called the Straightning Deal, and covered with coarse linen, the friends place a wooden platter on the breast of the dead person, containing a small quantity of salt, separately from an equal quantity of earth.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 513:
She'll make a gruesome and unsonsie corse. It will be a deft hand that can straughten her.Slg. 1832 Fife Herald (20 Sept.):
Mrs Dick was then sent for to assist in straightening the corpse.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood ii.:
I've strauchten'd the corp.

3. To apply a second, smoothing coat in plastering. Hence straightening, a second coat of plaster (Sc. 1946 Spons' Pract. Builders' Pocket Bk. 442).