▪ I. straif Obs. exc. dial.
Also 4 pl. streyves, strayves, 6 straiff, strayff, 9 strafe.
[Alteration of stray n., to match waif.]
A stray animal or thing. Chiefly in waif and straif: see waif n.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. Prol. 94 Of wardes and wardmotes, weyues and streyues [1393 C. i. 92 strayues]. 1447 Shillingford Lett. etc. (Camden) 99 He and his predecessours..have had view of Frank Plegge weif and straif and all other profits longing to a viewe. 1509–10 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 195 Redd. Ass. De ancaragia nil hoc anno, nec de wryk, nec de strayff, nec de wayff, nec de infanketheyff hoc anno. 1535–6 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 26 §23 Lordes Marchers..shall haue..Wayff, Straiff, Infanthef, Outfanthef, Treasoure Troves. 1876 Whitby Gloss., Waif and Straif, articles, by chance, washed up on the beach by the sea, as wreck materials; here they are the property of the manor owner. 1879 G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk., Strafe, a stray animal. |
▪ II. straif
obs. Sc. pa. tense of strive v.