Strait

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪt
• Homophones: straight

Origin

From Middle English streit, from Anglo-Norman estreit, Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō ("compress, tighten"). Doublet of strict.

Full definition of strait

Adjective

1. (archaic) Narrow; restricted as to space or room; close.
• Emersontoo strait and low our cottage doors
• 1866, , Aholibah, lines 53-55Sweet oil was poured out on thy headAnd ran down like cool rain betweenThe strait close locks it melted in.
• 1900, , To One in Bedlam, lines 3-5Those scentless wisps of straw, that miserably lineHis strait, caged universe, whereat the dull world stares,Pedant and pitiful.
2. (archaic) Righteous, strict.to follow the strait and narrow
• 1597, William Shakespeare, , IV. iii. 79:some certain edicts and some strait decrees
• Bible, Acts xxvi. 5 (Rev. Ver.)the straitest sect of our religion
3. (obsolete) Tight; close; tight-fitting.
• 1613, William Shakespeare, , III. vi. 86:Is not this piece too strait?
  No, no, 'tis well.
4. (obsolete) Close; intimate; near; familiar.
• Sir Philip Sidneya strait degree of favour
5. (obsolete) Difficult; distressful; straited.
• Seckerto make your strait circumstances yet straiter
6. (obsolete) Parsimonious; niggardly; mean.
• 1596, William Shakespeare, , V. vii. 42:I beg cold comfort, and you are so strait,
  And so ingrateful, you deny me that.

Usage notes

The adjective is often confused with straight.

Derived terms

• straitjacket
• strait-laced

Noun

1. (geography) A narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water.The Strait of Gibraltar
• De FoeWe steered directly through a large outlet which they call a strait, though it be fifteen miles broad.
2. A narrow pass or passage.
• SpenserHe brought him through a darksome narrow strait
  To a broad gate all built of beaten gold.
• 1602, William Shakespeare, , III. iii. 154:For honour travels in a strait so narrow
  Where one but goes abreast.
3. A neck of land; an isthmus.
• Tennysona dark strait of barren land
4. A difficult position (often used in plural).to be in dire straits
• SouthLet no man, who owns a Providence, grow desperate under any calamity or strait whatsoever.
• BroomeUlysses made use of the pretense of natural infirmity to conceal the straits he was in at that time in his thoughts.

Derived terms

• dire straits

Verb

1. (obsolete) To put to difficulties.

Adverb

1. (obsolete) Strictly; rigorously.
• 1593, William Shakespeare, , III. ii. 20:Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester

Anagrams

• artist, strati, traits