Etymology dictionary
stowaway (n.) — stretch (n.)
stowaway (n.)
also stow-away, "one who conceals himself aboard an outward-bound vessel until it is too far out to turn back, to secure a free passage or escape by stealth;" 1848, from verbal phrase stow away "conceal," which was in use by 1795; see stow (v.) + away.
STP (n.)
commercial motor oil additive, probably an initialism (acronym) of scientifically treated petroleum. As the street name of a type of psychedelic drug, attested from 1967. Before all that it meant "Professor of Sacred Theology" (Sacrae Theologiae Professor).
strabismus (n.)
"a squinting of the eyes," 1680s, medical Latin, from Greek strabismos, from strabizein "to squint," which is from strabos "squinting, squint-eyed," a word related to strobos "a whirling round" (traditionally from PIE root *streb(h)- "to wind, turn," but compare stroboscope). Earlier in Englished form strabism (1650s) and before that in medical writing as strabosite (early 15c., Chauliac). Related: Strabismal; strabismic; strabismical.
straddle (v.)
1560s, "spread the legs wide, stand or walk with the legs wide apart," probably an alteration of striddle (mid-15c.), a frequentative of striden (see stride (v.)). The transitive sense "place one leg on one side of and the other on the other side of" is from 1670s. U.S. colloquial figurative sense of "take up an equivocal position, appear to favor both sides" is attested from 1838. Related: Straddled; straddling.
The noun is attested by 1610s, "act of standing with the legs far apart;" the figurative use in stock-market investment and poker is from 19c.
Stradivarius (n.)
valued type of violin, 1818, from Latinized form of name of Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), violin-maker of Cremona, or his sons or pupils. Short form Strad is attested by 1884.
strafe (v.)
1915, "punish, attack, bomb heavily," picked up by British soldiers in colloquial or humorous use, from German strafen "to punish" (from Proto-Germanic *stræf-) as used in the slogan Gott strafe England "May God punish England," current in Germany c. 1914-16 at the start of World War I. The word was used in English at first for any kind of attack; the meaning "shoot up ground positions from low-flying aircraft" emerged as the main sense by 1942, during the next war. Related: Strafed; strafing.
straggle (v.)
early 15c., stragelen, "wander from the proper path; rove from one's companions, become separated; move about without fixed direction or purpose," a word of uncertain etymology but ultimately from a Germanic "go, move" word (cognate with Middle Low German straken, Old High German stracchen). Perhaps it is via a Scandinavian source (compare dialectal Norwegian stragla "to walk laboriously"), or perhaps it is a frequentative or other variant of Middle English stragen "walk with long steps," or straken "move, go, proceed rapidly" (early 14c.).
Specifically of soldiers, "be dispersed, be apart from the main body," from 1520s. Related: Straggled; straggling.
straggler (n.)
1520s, "one who strays away," agent noun from straggle (v.). Of animals by 1550s; of soldiers by 1580s. In botany, "something that shoots beyond the rest or too far," 1550s.
stray (n.)
"domestic animal found wandering from its enclosure or proper place," early 13c., strai, a legal term, from Anglo-French stray, estray, noun use of Old French estraié "strayed, riderless," past-participle adjective from estraier "to roam, drift, run loose" (see stray (v.), and compare waif).
stray (adj.)
c. 1600, of animals; 19c. of persons and things, from stray (n.) and in part a shortening of astray.
stray (v.)
c. 1300, straien, of animals, "wander away from an enclosure or herd," also figurative, of persons, "wander from the path of justice or rectitude," a shortening of Old French estraier "wander about, roam, drift, run loose," said of animals, especially a horse without a master, also of persons, perhaps literally "go about the streets," from estree "route, highway," from Late Latin via strata "paved road" (see street).
On another theory (reprinted in OED), the Old French word is from Vulgar Latin *estragare, a contraction of *estravagare, representing Latin extra vagari "to wander outside" (see extravagant). Related: Strayed; straying.
straight (adj.1)
early 14c., streight, of the body, "not bent or curved, not bent," like a string stretched tight or drawn out, etymologically, "stretched" (a sense once current but now now obsolete); from adjectival use of Old English streht (earlier streaht), past participle of streccan "to stretch" (see stretch (v.)). Related: Straightly; straightness.
By late 14c. of a line, street, etc., "direct, undeviating;" by early 15c. of a person, "direct, honest;" of conduct, "free from crookedness," 1520s.
Of communication, "clear, unreserved, unambiguous," by 1862. The sense of "undiluted, unmixed, pure" (as in straight whiskey, 1874) is American English, attested by 1856. The meaning "continuous, unbroken" (six straight days) is by 1899; compare use of the noun in poker (1841). The theatrical sense of "serious" (as opposed to popular or comic) is attested by 1895; vaudeville slang straight man for one of a comedy duo is attested by 1906.
Straight arrow "decent, conventional person" is 1969, from a stereotypical Native American brave name. Straight shooter "honest person" is from 1928. Straight As "top grades" is from 1920. Straight-razor is by 1959, after other sorts had come along.
For "not homosexual," see straight (adj.2).
straight (adv.)
c. 1300, "in a straight line, without swerving or deviating;" also "at once, immediately, directly;" from straight (adj.1).
To think straight "think clearly" is by 1916. To go straight in the underworld slang sense of "give up a life of crime" is from 1919 (straighten up "become respectable" is from 1907). To play it straight is from 1906 in theater, by 1907 in sports ("play fair"), and with later figurative extension some of them perhaps from jazz slang use. To do something straight off "without delay" is by 1873.
straight (adj.2)
"conventional," especially "heterosexual," 1941, a secondary sense evolved from straight (adj.1) in one of its senses, probably suggested by the stock phrase straight and narrow path or way, "course of conventional morality and law-abiding behavior" (by 1842), which is based on a misreading of Matthew vii.14 (where the gate is actually strait); another influence seems to be strait-laced.
straight (n.)
1640s, "a level position," from straight (adj.1). From 1864 as "straight part of a race track." Poker sense of "a sequence of cards," generally five of them, is attested from 1841. However straight poker (1864) is "the game in its unmodified form." The meaning "conventional person" is recorded by 1967, from straight (adj.2).
straightaway (adv.)
1660s, "immediately, at once;" from adverbial phrase, see straight (adv.) + away (adv.); and compare alway(s). As an adjective, "straight forward, without turn or curve," 1874, from straight (adj.1); also later as a noun, "straight stretch of road or track."
straight-edge (n.)
1812, "bar with one edge made as straight as possible for drawing or measuring straight lines," from straight (adj.1) + edge (n.). As the name of a punk subculture (by 1987), probably also suggested by the "morally uncompromising" notions in straight (adj.2).
straighten (v.)
"make straight," in any sense, 1540s (transitive), from straight (adj.1) + -en (1). The intransitive sense "become straight" is attested by 1891. Related: Straightened; straightening; straightener. The earlier verb was simply straight (Middle English streiten, late 14c.) "make narrow, constrict, force into a confined space." To straighten up "become respectable" is from 1907.
straight-faced (adj.)
1938, of persons, "with visage showing no emotion or reaction," from the slang noun expression straight face "unsmiling face" (1897), from straight (adj.1) with a sense of "not disarranged or ruffled."
straightforward (adv.)
1550s, straightforwards (with adverbial genitive -s), "directly in front," from the adverbial phrase; see straight (adv.) + forward (adv.). As "directly forward, right ahead," by 1807.
straightforward (adj.)
"proceeding or leading directly forward," by 1807, from straight (adj.1) + forward (adv.). Figuratively, in reference to language, "honest, upright, frank," from 1806. Related: Straightforwardly; straightforwardness.
straightway (adv.)
"immediately, without delay or loss of time," 1520s, from straight (adv.) + way (n.).
strain (n.2)
"line of descent, lineage, breed, ancestry," c. 1200, from Old English strion, streon "a begetting, procreation," also "a gain, acquisition, treasure;" from Proto-Germanic *streu-nam- "to pile up" (from PIE *streu-, extended form of root *stere- "to spread").
Hence "race, stock, line" (early 14c.). Applied to animal species from c. 1600; usually involving fairly minor variations, but not distinct from breed (n.). Of microbes by 1897. The general sense of "sort, kind, style" is from 1590s. Normal sound development would have yielded *streen, but the word was altered in late Middle English, apparently by influence of strain (n.1).
strain (n.1)
1550s, "injury to a muscle or tendon caused by straining," from strain (v.). The meaning "a stretching or deforming force or pressure" is by 1580s. Paired alliteratively with stress (n.) by 1842; they are from the same Latin verb.
The meaning "passage of music" (1570s) probably developed from the notion of a "tightening" of the voice to sing it; the verb had been used in a literal sense in reference to the strings of a musical instrument by late 14c. Hence, generally, "tone, style, turn of expression" (1620s).
strain (v.)
c. 1300, streinen, "tie, bind, fasten, gird;" early 14c., "confine, restrain" (a body part, animal, etc.), senses now obsolete, from present-participle stem of Old French estreindre "bind tightly, clasp, squeeze," from Latin stringere (2) "draw tight, bind tight, compress, press together."
This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *streig- "to stroke, rub, press" (source also of Lithuanian strėgti "congeal, freeze, become stiff;" Greek strangein "twist;" Old High German strician "mends nets;" Old English streccian "to stretch;" German stramm, Dutch stram "stiff").
Strain is attested from late 14c. as "tighten; stretch, extend; make taut; stretch to the utmost tension," also, intransitive, "exert oneself, strive; exert a compelling force;" also "overexert (a body part), injure by overstretching."
The sense of "press through a filter, put (a liquid) through a strainer" to purify from extraneous matter is from late 14c. (implied early 14c. in strainer); that of "to stress beyond measure, carry too far, make a forced interpretation of" is from mid-15c. Related: Strained; straining.
Transitive strain at "make a difficulty of" (1580s) echoes Matthew xxiii.24 (strain at a gnat; Tyndale has the line as Ye blind guides, which strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel), in which the sense seems to be "will strain the liquor if they find (but) a gnat in it."
strainer (n.)
"utensil which strains, device for filtering liquid," early 14c., streinour, agent noun from strain (v.).
strait (n.)
mid-14c., streit, "narrow, confined space or place," especially narrow pass or passage between hills; by late 14c. in reference to a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies; from Anglo-French estreit, estrait "narrow part, pass, defile, narrow passage of water," variant of Old French estroit, a noun use of the adjective (for which see strait (adj.)).
Often in plural, straits. The sense of "difficulty, plight" (usually plural) is recorded by 1540s. For strait and narrow "conventional or wisely limited way of life," see straight (adj.2).
strait (adj.)
c. 1300, streit, "narrow, not wide" (of a path or way); "tightly pulled" (of sewing, binding); "close-fitting" (of garments); "strict, exacting, stern" (of rulers, laws, etc.), from Anglo-French estreit, estrait, variants of Old French estroit "tight, close-fitting, constricted, narrow" (Modern French étroit), from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere (2) "bind or draw tight" (see strain (v.)).
Of a way of life, "severely restricted, austere," c. 1400. Of a garment, strait-waisted is by c. 1400. It has been more or less confused with unrelated straight (adj.), as both have been spelled in both forms. Related: Straitly; straitness.
straitened (adj.)
c. 1600, "too narrow;" 1716, "reduced to hardship, afflicted with pecuniary difficulties;" past-participle adjective from straiten (v.). Phrase straitened circumstances is recorded from 1766.
straiten (v.)
1550s (transitive) "restrict, make narrow," from strait (adj.) + -en (1). Figuratively, "press hard," as with want or difficulties. Related: straitened; straitening. The earlier verb was simply strait "constrict, make narrow" (late 14c., streiten).
strait-jacket (n.)
also straitjacket, 1795, as a type of restraint for lunatics, a garment for the body with long sleeves made to lace up behind and fit closely, from strait (adj.) "tight, close-fitting" + jacket (n.); earlier in same sense was strait-waistcoat (1753). As a verb from 1863. Related: Strait-jacketed.
strait-laced (adj.)
of stays or bodices, "made close and tight by lacing," suggested by early 15c., see strait (adj.) + lace (v.). The figurative sense of "over-precise, prudish, strict in manners or morals" is from 1550s.
strand (n.1)
"shore, beach, land abutting a body of water," Middle English stronde, from Old English strand "sea-shore," from Proto-Germanic *strandaz (source also of Danish and Swedish strand "beach, shore, strand," Old Norse strönd "border, edge, shore," Old Frisian strond, Middle Dutch strant, Dutch strand, Middle Low German strant, German Strand "beach"), a word of uncertain origin.
Perhaps it is from PIE root *ster- "to stretch out." Now generally of the shore of a beach or ocean, formerly also used of river banks, hence the London street name (attested by 1246). Used vaguely, poetically, for "foreign region" from late 14c. (Chaucer's straunge strondes).
In strictest use, the part of a shore that lies between the tide-marks, to which certain rights or privileges pertained. It is common in Middle English formulaic expressions of the extent of liberties or rights, as in land and strand (c. 1100) "land, whether abutting the sea or not." On strond and on streme (c. 1400) was "in territorial waters."
strand (v.)
1620s, "to drive aground on a sea-shore," from strand (n.1). Compare beach (v.). The figurative sense of "leave helpless; be checked or stopped," as of a ship grounded by the tide, is recorded from 1837. Related: Stranded; stranding.
strand (n.2)
"individual fiber of a rope, string, etc.," late 15c., probably from a continental Germanic source akin to Old High German streno "lock, tress, strand of hair," Middle Dutch strene "a skein, hank of thread," German Strähne "a skein, strand," but all are of uncertain connection. Perhaps it comes to English via an Old French form. With unetymological -d (see D). As a verb, "to form by union or twisting of strands," by 1886.
strange (adj.)
c. 1300, straunge, "from elsewhere, foreign, of another country; unknown, unfamiliar, not belonging to the place where found," also of a country, "unfamiliar, unknown, remote," from Old French estrange "foreign, alien, unusual, unfamiliar, curious; distant; inhospitable; estranged, separated" (Anglo-French estraunge, strange, straunge; Modern French étrange). This is from Latin extraneus "foreign, external, from without" (source also of Italian strano "strange, foreign," Spanish extraño), from extra "outside of" (see extra-).
In early use also strounge. In Middle English "not belonging to the place where found" in any sense, of religious groups, guilds, households as well as towns. The sense of "queer, surprising" also is implied from c. 1300. That of "aloof, reserved, distant; like a stranger" is by mid-14c. As an interjection of wonder by 1660s. The use of the word in particle physics is by 1956.
Strange woman "harlot" is biblical, since Coverdale (1535); there the word translates two Hebrew words both meaning "not one's own" woman. To make strange "seem to be surprised or shocked" is from mid-15c. The surname Lestrange is attested from late 12c. Related: Strangely; strangeness.
stranger (n.)
late 14c., straunger, "unknown person, foreigner, one who comes from another country," from strange + -er (1) or else from Old French estrangier "foreigner" (Modern French étranger), from estrange. Latin used the adjective extraneus as a noun to mean "stranger."
By 15c. as "not a citizen of a nation, not a member of a religious group, craft, family, etc." The English noun never picked up the secondary sense of the adjective. Also from late 14c. as "traveler, transient," As a form of address to an unknown person, it is recorded from 1817, American English rural colloquial. The meaning "one who has stopped visiting" (often with reminder to not be one) is recorded from 1520s.
strangle (v.)
c. 1300, stranglen, "choke, choke to death, cause death by choking," also broadly "kill, slaughter," from Old French estrangler "choke, suffocate, throttle" (Modern French étrangler), from Latin strangulare "to choke, stifle, check, constrain," from Greek strangalaō "to choke, twist," from strangalē "a halter, cord, noose, lace," which is related to strangos "tied together, entangled, twisted," from PIE root *strengh- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist" (see string (n.)). "The PIE root *strengh- probably meant 'to twist, string', which would have developed into 'to wrench' " [Beekes].
The figurative sense of "suppress, stifle" is from 1610s. The noun, "act or action of strangling," is from 1610s. Related: Strangled; strangling.
strangle-hold (n.)
also stranglehold, 1893, in wrestling, from strangle (n.) "action of strangling" (see strangle (v.)) + hold (n.). Figurative use is by 1901.
strangler (n.)
"one who or that which strangles," 1550s, agent noun from strangle (v.). As a type of plant or tree, by 1895.
strangulation (n.)
"act of strangling, state of being strangled; sudden violent compression of the windpipe by constriction of the neck," 1540s, from Latin strangulationem (nominative strangulatio) "a choking, a suffocating," noun of action from past-participle stem of strangulare (see strangle).
The verbal noun strangling in the same sense is attested from late 14c. The verb strangulate (1660s) probably is a back-formation from this, and is used in pathology for "compress so as to suppress the function of" (1771). Related: Strangulated.
strap (n.)
1610s, "narrow band of leather," from a Scottish and/or nautical variant of strope "loop or strap on a harness" (mid-14c.), which is probably from Old French estrop "strap," from Latin stroppus "strap, band," ultimately (perhaps via Etruscan) from Greek strophos "twisted band; a cord, rope," from strephein "to turn" (see strepto-).
Old English stropp, Dutch strop "halter" also are borrowed from Latin, and the Old English word might be the source of the modern one. Generally a strap is used for mechanical purposes. As "long, narrow piece of iron or other metal," 1570s. Specifically as an instrument for flogging by 1710. The slang meaning "credit" is from 1828.
strap (v.)
"to fasten or secure with a strap," 1711, from strap (n.). Slang adjective strapped "short of money" is from 1857, from strap (n.) in the old sense of "financial credit" (1828). Meaning "to beat with a strap" is from 1735. Related: Strapped; strapping.
strapping (adj.)
"tall and sturdy, robust," originally applied to women, 1650s, from present participle of strap (v.), apparently in the sense of "to beat with a strap." Compare similar senses in whopping, spanking (1660s), bouncing (1570s), cracking, thumping (1570s), ripping, smashing, and other present-participle adjectives of violent action expressing something large in size or effect. Swapping "very big" is by mid-15c. from swap in the old sense of "to strike, hit."
strap-hanger (n.)
also straphanger "rider on a street-car, elevated-train, bus, or subway," 1901, from strap (n.) + hanger. In reference to the hanging straps built in to cars and meant to be grasped for balance by those without seats on public conveyances (attested by 1861). The verb strap-hang is attested by 1908.
strapless (adj.)
1824 of shoes, 1839 of trousers, 1920 of gowns, 1931 of brassieres, from strap (n.) + -less.
strapline (n.)
also strap-line, 1960, in typography, "subsidiary headline above a main head," from strap (n.) + line (n.). In reference to temporary marks on the body from undergarment straps, by 1973.
strap-on (adj.)
also strapon, "that can be attached by straps," 1966, of rocket boosters; also as a noun, from the verbal phrase; see strap (v.) + on (adv.).
strappy (adj.)
of shoes, etc., by 1970, from strap (n.) + -y (2).
strata (n.)
"horizontal layers," c. 1700, plural of stratum.
stratagem (n.)
"artifice, trick," especially in war, late 15c., from French strattegeme, stratagème "trick, especially to outwit an enemy" (15c.), from Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema "artifice, stratagem," from Greek strategema "the act of a general; military stratagem," from strategein "to be a general, command," from strategos "general" (see strategy). Related: Stratagematic; stratagemic; stratagemical. The second -a- is a Romanic misspelling (compare Spanish estratagema).
strategic (adj.)
"pertaining to strategy, characterized by strategy," 1807, from French stratégique and directly from Latinized form of Greek stratēgikos, in classical use, "of or for a general; fitted for command," from stratēgein "be a general," from strategos "commander of an army" (see strategy).
In reference to materials essential to fighting wars, by 1958. Related: Strategical; strategically (1810). Strategetic in the same sense is by 1848, from Greek stratēgētikos "pertaining to the command of an army." Related: Strategetical.
strategize (v.)
"formulate strategy," 1874, from strategy + -ize. Related: Strategized; strategizing.
strategy (n.)
1810, "the art of a general, the science of war," from French stratégie (16c.) and directly from Latinized form of Greek stratēgia "office or command of a general," from stratēgos "general, commander of an army," also the title of various civil officials and magistrates, from stratos "multitude, troop, a division of the people; army, navy, expedition, encamped army," probably originally "a camping army," and meaning etymologically "that which is spread out" (from PIE *str-to-, from root *stere- "to spread"). With Greek agos "leader," from agein "to lead" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").
As "an instance of strategy, a particular strategy" by 1833. In non-military use by 1887.
strategist (n.)
"one skilled in strategy," 1838, from French stratégiste, from stratégie (see strategy).
strath (n.)
"wide river valley between hills," 1530s, from Scottish, from Old Irish srath "wide river valley," from Old Celtic *s(t)rato-, from PIE root *stere- "to spread" (also the source of street and stratum). As in Strathmore "the Great Valley."
stratification (n.)
"formulation or arrangement in layers," 1610s, from Medieval Latin stratificationem (nominative stratificatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of stratificare "to form strata," from stratum "thing spread out" (see stratum) + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). In sociology from 1879.
stratify (v.)
"form into a layer or layers," 1660s, from French stratifier, from Modern Latin stratificare, from stratum (see stratum). Related: Stratified; stratifying.
stratigraphy (n.)
in geology, "description of strata," 1865, from combining form of stratum + -graphy. Related: Stratigraphic; stratigraphical (1815); stratigrapher.
strato-
before vowels strat-, word-forming element of Latin origin referring to layers or layering, also stratus clouds, from combining form of Latin stratus "a spreading" (from PIE root *stere- "to spread"). In later use often short for stratosphere, in reference to high altitudes.
stratocracy (n.)
"government by the armed forces, military government," 1650s, from Greek stratos "army, encamped army," literally "that which is spread out" (from PIE root *stere- "to spread"), + -cracy "rule or government by."
strato-cumulus (adj.)
stratography (n.)
"description of armies," 1810, from Greek stratos "army, encamped army" (literally "that which is spread out;" from PIE root *stere- "to spread") + -graphy.
stratosphere (n.)
1908, from French stratosphère, literally "sphere of layers," coined by French meteorologist Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort (1855-1913) from Latin stratus "a spreading out" (from past-participle stem of sternere "to spread out," from PIE root *stere- "to spread") + French -sphère, as in atmosphère (see sphere).
The region where the temperature increases or remains steady as altitude increases. An earlier stratosphere, attested in English 1908 and coined in German 1901, was a geological term for part of the Earth's crust. It is now obsolete in this sense. Related: Stratospheric.
stratovolcano (n.)
by 1957, coined in German (von Seebach, 1866), from strato- + volcano. So called for its layered structure.
stratus (n.)
"low, continuous, horizontal sheet of cloud," 1803, from Latin stratus "a spreading, a bedspread." from noun use of past participle of sternere "to spread out, lay down, stretch out" (from nasalized form of PIE root *stere- "to spread").
stratum (n.)
"horizontal layer," 1590s, from a Modern Latin special use of Latin stratum "thing spread out, coverlet, bedspread, horse-blanket; pavement," noun uses of neuter of stratus "prostrate, prone," past participle of sternere "to spread out, lay down, stretch out" (from nasalized form of PIE root *stere- "to spread").
straw (n.)
Middle English strau, from Old English streaw (rare) "dried stems or stalks of certain grains after threshing," apparently literally "that which is scattered or strewn," related to streowian (see strew).
This is from Proto-Germanic *straw- "that which is scattered" (source also of Old Norse stra, Danish straa, Swedish strå, Old Saxon stro, Old Frisian stre, Old Dutch, Old High German stro, Dutch stroo, German Stroh "straw"), from PIE root *stere- "to spread." The notion perhaps is of dried grain stalks strewn on a floor as carpeting or bedding. As a type of what is trifling or unimportant, attested from late 13c.
The meaning "hollow tube through which a drink is sucked" is recorded from 1851. As an adjective, "made of straw," mid-15c.; hence "false, sham," as in straw bid (by 1889).
Straw poll "vote taken without previous notice or at a casual gathering" is from 1932; earlier straw vote (1866). Straw hat, one made of woven or plaited straw, is attested mid-15c. (strawen hattis).
To clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws (1748) is what a drowning man proverbially would do. The last straw (1836 apart from the full phrase) is from the proverbial "it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back" (or, less often, the mare's, the horse's, or the elephant's), an image in use in English by 1755.
To draw straws as a means of deciding something is recorded from 1779 (the custom probably is older). It also meant, in reference to the eyes, "give indications of sleepiness" (1690s). In the straw, of a woman, "giving birth" is from 1660s.
strawberry (n.)
Middle English strauberi, used of the plant or its "fruit," from Old English streawberige, streaberie; see straw + berry. There is no corresponding compound in other Germanic languages; the reason for the name is uncertain, but perhaps it is in reference to the tiny chaff-like external seeds which cover the fruit.
A cognate Old English name was eorðberge "earth-berry" (compare Modern German Erdbeere). As a color adjective from 1670s. Strawberry blonde (adj.), indicating a shade with some red in it, is attested from 1879. Strawberry mark (1847) so called for its resemblance.
straw man (n.)
1590s, "doll or scarecrow made of bound straw," from straw (n.) + man (n.). Figuratively, in debates, by 1896, from man of straw "an easily refuted imaginary opponent in an argument," which is recorded from 1620s.
streaking (n.)
"running naked (in tennis shoes) in public," 1973, a college student fad from that year, verbal noun from streak (v.2) "go quickly, run at full speed," but as the thing was American at first the word probably was felt as from streak (n.) as indicative of swiftness. Related: Streaker.
streak (v.1)
1590s, transitive, "make streaks on the surface of," from streak (n.). The intransitive sense of "become streaked" is from 1870. Related: Streaked; streaking.
streak (v.2)
1768, "go quickly, rush, run at full speed," a respelling (probably by association with streak (v.1)) of streek "go quickly" (early 14c.). This originally meant "stretch oneself" (mid-13c.) and is a northern Middle English variant of stretch (v.). The sense connection might be via "extend oneself in a certain direction." Streek itself likely was confused with strike (v.). In the U.S. this verb streak tends to be associated with the noun. Related: Streaked; streaking.
streak (n.)
Middle English strik, strike, from Old English strica "line of motion, stroke of a pen" in writing or as a mark for measurement." This is related to strican "pass over lightly," and from a Proto-Germanic *strikon- (source also of Middle Dutch streke, Dutch streek, Middle Low German streke "a stroke, line," Old High German, German strich, Gothic striks "a stroke, line"). This is said to be from PIE root *strig- "to stroke, rub, press" (see strigil; also compare strike (v.), stroke (v.)).
Extended in Middle English to irregular bands or long, thin stroke marks generally (in fabrics, etc.). By 1560s especially as "line of color as a distinctive mark in the coat of an animal," hence figuratively, "trait, turn of character or disposition." In reference to strands of hair by 1949.
As something indicative of swiftness, by 1839, American-English colloquial, probably from its use in reference to lightning flashes, which is attested by 1742. The meaning "temporary run" (of luck) is by 1841, American English colloquial.
Stroke of luck is attested by 1755 and perhaps this is from or influenced by that phrase.
streaky (adj.)
1660s, "occurring in streaks," from streak (n.) + -y (2). The sense of "having or marked with streaks" is by 1745. The figurative sense of "uneven in quality, variable in character" is by 1889. Related: Streakiness.
stream (n.)
Middle English strem "course of water, current of a stream, body of water flowing in a natural channel," from Old English stream, from Proto-Germanic *strauma- (source also of Old Saxon strom, Old Norse straumr, Danish strøm, Swedish ström, Norwegian straum, Old Frisian stram, Dutch stroom, Old High German stroum, German Strom "current, river"), from PIE root *sreu- "to flow."
Boutkan writes, "The Gmc. insertion of the -t- in the cluster *sr is automatic," and compares Old English swester "sister" from PIE *swesr-.
From early 12c. as "anything issuing from a source and flowing continuously." Also sometimes in Old English and Middle English "the ocean, the sea," or a navigable channel of it; the meaning "steady current in the sea" (as in Gulf Stream) is recorded from late 14c., as is the sense of "steady current in a river."
The general sense of "continued course or current (of anything) moving in the same direction" is by 1580s. Stream of thought is from 1890 in psychology. Stream of consciousness in literary criticism is recorded by 1930, earlier in psychology (1855).
stream (v.)
early 13c., stremen, of water, blood, sweat, etc., "flow copiously, move or run in a continuous current," from stream (n.). The transitive sense of "pour out or discharge in a stream, cause to flow as a liquid" is from late 14c. Related: Streamed; streaming. Compare German strömen, Dutch stroomen, Danish strömme, all verbs from nouns. Of air, c. 1300; of light from late 14c.; of flags, 1550s, of hair, 1731.
streamer (n.)
late 13c., stremer, "flag that streams in the air," agent noun from stream (v.). Originally nautical, a flag attached to the mast to identify the vessel or signal in battle. General use is by mid-15c.
streamlet (n.)
"brook, small stream," 1550s; see stream (n.) + -let.
streamline (n.)
1868, "line drawn from point to point, so that its direction is everywhere that of the motion of the fluid" [Lamb, "Hydrodynamics," 1906], from stream (n.) + line (n.) as in line of flow. Extended to aeronautics by 1909. The adjective is attested from 1898, "free from turbulence;" by 1907 in the sense of "shaped so that the flow around it is smooth."
streamline (v.)
1913 (implied in streamlined), "give a streamline form to," from streamline (n.). From 1936 in the extended sense of "simplify and organize." Related: Streamlining.
*streb(h)-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to wind, turn."
It forms all or part of: anastrophe; antistrophe; apostrophe (n.1); apostrophe (n.2); boustrophedon; catastrophe; epistrophe; strabismus; strap; strep; strepto-; streptococcus; streptomycin; strobe; strobic; stroboscope; strop; strophe; strophic.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek strophe "stanza," originally "a turning," strephein "to turn," strophaligs "whirl, whirlwind," streblos "twisted," stremma "that which is twisted."
street (n.)
Middle English strete, "road in a city or town," also "road from one city or town to another," from Old English stret (Mercian, Kentish), stræt (West Saxon) "street, high road," from Late Latin strata, used elliptically for via strata "paved road." Latin strata is fem. past participle of sternere "lay down, spread out, pave," from PIE *stre-to- "to stretch, extend" (from nasalized form of PIE root *stere- "to spread").
One of the rare words that has been in use in England continuously from Roman times. An early and widespread Germanic borrowing (Old Frisian strete, Old Saxon strata, Middle Dutch strate, Dutch straat, Old High German straza, German Strasse, Swedish stråt, Danish sträde "street"). The Latin is also the source of Spanish estrada, Old French estrée, Italian strada.
It was the usual Old English term for Roman roads (Watling Street, Icknield Street), "later extended to other roads, urban streets, and in SE dialects to a street of dwellings, a straggling village or hamlet" [Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names]. "In the Middle Ages, a road or way was merely a direction in which people rode or went, the name street being reserved for the made road" [Weekley].
It has been used since late 14c. to mean "the people in the street, inhabitants of a street;" the modern sense of "the realm of the people as the source of political support" dates from 1931. The street for an especially important street is from 1560s (originally of London's Lombard-street). Man in the street "ordinary person, non-expert" is attested from 1831.
Street people "the homeless, vagrants" is from 1967; the expression on the street "homeless" is from 1852 (by 1728 of women, with implications of prostitution). Street smarts is from 1971; street-credibility is from 1979. Street-preacher is by 1722, originally of Methodists (and sometimes Quakers); street-preaching is by 1838, distinguished by the Methodists from field-preaching. Street-sweeper as an occupation is from 1848.
street-car (n.)
"passenger car for city travel," 1859, horse-drawn, later cable-powered, American English, from street (n.) + car (n.).
street-walker (n.)
"common prostitute," 1590s, from street (n.) + agent noun from walk (v.). As "pedestrian," from 1610s.
street-wise (adj.)
1951, from street (n.) + wise (adj.) "smart, savvy."
strength (n.)
Middle English strengthe, from Old English strengþu, strengð "property of being strong, bodily power, muscular force; vigor, firmness, fortitude, manhood; violence; moral resistance," from Proto-Germanic *strangitho (source also of Old High German strengida "strength"), from PIE *strenk- "tight, narrow" (see string (n.)).
With Proto-Germanic abstract noun suffix *-itho (see -th (2)). From the same root as strong; compare length/long.
strengthen (v.)
"make strong or stronger; grow stronger," mid-15c., from strength + -en (1). Related: Strengthened; strengthening; strengthener. The earlier verb was simply strength (c. 1200), also strengen "prevail, impart strength," from Old English gestrengan.
strenuous (adj.)
"characterized by great effort," mid-15c. (implied in strenuously), from Latin strenuus "active, brisk, quick, nimble, prompt, vigorous, keen." It is probably cognate with Greek strēnes, strēnos "keen, strong," strenos "arrogance, eager desire," Old English stierne "hard, severe, keen" (see stern (adj.)).
Mocked by Ben Jonson as a pedantic neologism in "Poetaster" (1601). The sense of "requiring much energy" is recorded by 1670s. Related: Strenuousness; strenuosity.
strep
by 1922, in American English hospital publications, in strep throat; short for streptococcus (q.v.).
streperous (adj.)
"noisy, harsh-sounding," 1630s, from Medieval Latin streperus, from Latin strepere "make a noise," a word of uncertain connections, but de Vaan compares Old Norse þrefa "quarrel," þrapt "gossip;" Old English þræft "quarrel."
Alternative adjective strepitous "noisy, accompanied by great noise" is by 1680s; OED says it is "Now used chiefly in musical criticism." Browning used strepitant "noisy" (1855). A 1772 translation tried streperosity "high-sounding language" for the matchless Spanish in con el estrepitoso sonido.
Strephon
masc. proper name of Greek origin; as a conventional name for "a lover," from the name of shepherd lover who opens Sidney's "Arcadia" (begun 1580).
strepto-
before vowels strept-, word-forming element used in science to mean "twisted; in the form of a chain," from Latinized combining form of Greek streptos "twisted, flexible, easy to bend, pliant," as a noun, "a necklace, a curl," verbal adjective of strephein "to turn, twist, wind."
Greek strophē "a twisting, turning around" is another variant from strephein. The verb is generally reconstructed to be from PIE root *streb(h)- "to wind, turn." But Beekes writes that "The root has no Indo-European cognates," and he compares streblos "turned, twisted, crooked, cunning," which he suggests is of Pre-Greek origin.
streptococcus (n.)
bacteria genus, 1877, coined in Modern Latin by Viennese surgeon Albert Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) from strepto- "twisted" + Modern Latin coccus "spherical bacterium," from Greek kokkos "berry" (see cocco-). So called because the bacteria usually form chains.
streptomycin (n.)
antibiotic drug, the first to be used successfully against tuberculosis, 1944, from Modern Latin Streptomyces, genus name of the bacterium from which the antibiotic was obtained, from strepto- "twisted" + -mycin, element used in forming names of substances obtained from fungi. It was first isolated by U.S. microbiologist Selman Abraham Waksman (1888-1973) and others.
stress (v.)
c. 1300, stressen, "to subject (someone) to force or compulsion; restrain, confine," senses now obsolete, a short form of distress (v.), or else of Old French estrecier, estrescer, from Vulgar Latin *strictiare, from Latin stringere "draw tight," which also is the source of stress (n.).
In mechanics, "subject (a thing) to physical stress," by 1540s; psychological sense of "subject (a person) to mental or emotional stress" is by 1973. The figurative meaning "put emphasis on" is recorded by 1896, perhaps from notion of laying pressure on something by relying on it. Related: Stressed; stressing.
stress (n.)
c. 1300, stresse, "hardship, adversity; constraining or compelling force or pressure, coercion;" the original senses are mostly archaic or obsolete. The word is in part a shortening of distress (n.) and in part from Old French estrece "narrowness, oppression," from Vulgar Latin *strictia, from Latin strictus "tight, compressed, drawn together," past participle of stringere "draw tight" (see strain (v.)).
The meaning "physical strain on a material object" is from mid-15c. In mechanics, "force acting on or within a body and tending to deform it," by 1855 (Rankine), but by others confused at the start with pressure, strain, and deformation.
The figurative meaning "weight, importance, emphasis" is by 1650s, perhaps from notion of "a testing strain, pressure put on something by relying on it." In reference to the relative loudness of vocal utterance of words or syllables, by 1749. The purely psychological sense in reference to a cause of anxiety is attested by 1955.
stressful (adj.)
"characterized by or attended by stress," in any sense, 1846, from stress (n.) + -ful. Related: Stressfully; stressfulness. The rare stressless (1885) is in linguistics and prosody, "unaccented, not given a stress in pronunciation."
stressor (n.)
in psychology and pathology, "agent or condition constituting a stress," 1950, agent noun in Latin form from stress (v.).
stretch (v.)
Middle English strecchen, from Old English streccan (transitive and intransitive) "draw out to full length, spread out, prostrate (oneself);" also "to reach or extend in space" (past tense strehte, past participle streht).
This is from Proto-Germanic *strakjanan (source also of Danish strække, Swedish sträcka, Old Frisian strekka, Old High German strecchan, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Old High German, German strecken "to stretch, draw out"), perhaps a variant of the root of stark, or else from PIE root *strenk- "tight, narrow; pull tight, twist" (see string (n.)).
The meaning "lay out for burial" is from early 13c. The transitive meaning "extend (the limbs or wings)" is from c. 1200. The meaning "extend or strain too far, impair by stretching" is from early 13c., originally as a method of torture.
The meanings "pull taut, lengthen or draw out by application of force" also "be continuous to a certain point" are recorded from late 14c.; hence the sense of "extend or cause to reach" between two points, attested by early 15c.
The intransitive sense of "bear extension without breaking, be elastic" is from late 15c. The colloquial meaning "eke out, sereve more than intended" is by 1923.
The figurative sense of "enlarge beyond proper limits, exaggerate," is from 1550s. The slang meaning "to hang" is by 1570s, perhaps from the sense in stretch a rope (or halter) "be hanged" (1590s). Related: Stretched; stretching.
To stretch (one's) legs "take a walk" is from c. 1600. Stretch limo is attested by 1973. Stretch mark "linear mark on skin left by distention," especially in pregnancy, is attested from 1960.
stretch (n.)
late 12c., "long or continued expanse of land or surface" (road, etc.), from stretch (v.). The general sense of "a stretching or straining" is by c. 1600. With reference to unwarranted exaggeration by 1540s.
As "a bodily stretching movement indicative of weariness" by 1712. The meaning "unbroken continuance of some activity, single uninterrupted effort" is recorded from 1660s. Hence probably the thieves' slang sense in reference to years of imprisonment (1821).
The meaning "straightaway of a race course, one of the two straight sides of a race track" (as in home stretch) is recorded from 1839. In baseball, as a preliminary move to throwing a pitch, by 1939.