▪ I. strick, n.
(strɪk)
Forms: 5 stric, strek, stryche, 5–7 strik, 5, (9 Sc.) streek, 6 streeke, strycke, 6–7 stricke, 6– strick.
[f. *strik- wk.-grade of the root of strike v. Cf. OF. estrique (= sense 3), Pg. estriga (= sense 1).]
1. A bundle of broken hemp, flax, jute, etc. for heckling. Cf. strike n. 2.
| 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 696/12 Hic linipolus, a stric of lyne. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 479/2 Streek, of flax (Kylw. A.P. linipulus). 1616 Surfl. & Markham Country Farm v. xviii. 568 So you shall beate this flaxe till it handle as soft as any silke, then vnplat the strickes againe, and heckle it through the second heckle. 1673 A. Walker Lees Lachrymans 8 The Blaze, a lock or strik of Flax, which gives but one flash, and dyes. 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 106/2 A Head of Flax, is twelve Stricks tied up to make a Bunch. A Strick, is about ten handfulls [of hemp or flax] made up together in a head. 1847 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. VIII. ii. 385 It is considered best to divide the labour of cleaning each strick of flax among three different stands. 1852 A. Robb Poems & Songs 115 A streek o' lint I canna pu'. 1881 Spons' Encycl. Industr. Arts etc. iv. 1243 Each stone [of 14 lb.] contains 5–8 ‘stricks’ or handfuls of finished flax, and each strick is composed of two ‘fingers’, two of the small lots that have been treated at one operation in the scutching-process. |
b. In Silk-manuf. A bunch of silk fibre.
| 1887 Encycl. Brit. XXII. 63/1 When the spikes are sufficiently filled [with silk fibre], the lap is cut.., and so stripped from the drum it forms a definite number of ‘stricks’. |
2. A measure of capacity for corn, coal, etc.; also the measuring vessel. Cf. straik n.1 2, strike n. 4. Now dial.
| 1421 Coventry Leet Book 27 He schall haue a strik of corne for his labour. 1530 in Phillipps Wills (c 1830) 177, I bequethe to..our Lady at Bretforton a strycke of barley. 1569 Nottingham Rec. (1889) IV. 135 Payd..for makyng of a sealle to sealle stryckes wyth alle xij d. 1576–77 Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden) 165 Item, for half a strick of coales, ij d. 1600 in T. North Bells Lincs. (1882) 512 Item pd to Anthony harte for a strick of mawlt..iijs. iiijd. 1893–4 Northumbld. Gloss., Streek,..applied occasionally to the measure of corn itself, a streek being understood for a bushel. |
3. A piece of wood with which surplus grain is struck off level with the rim of the measure. Cf. strickle n. 1, strike n. 3 a. Now dial.
| 14.. Lat. Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 588/13 Hostorium, a stryche. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 479/1 Strek, of a mesure as of a buschel or other lyke, hostorium. 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 256/1 Radius,..that which Bakers vse to make their meale measures euen: a streeke or strichell. Ibid. 341/1 Hostorium,..a stritchill: a stricke: a..peece of wood..wherewith measures are made euen. |
| Comb. 1886 W. Somerset Word-bk. s.v. Strick 2, So ‘strick-measure’ means level, in distinction from ‘heap-measure’, as peas, potatoes, fruit, &c. are sold. |
▪ II. strick, v.
(strɪk)
Also 5 stryche.
[f. strick n.]
1. trans. To strike off (corn, etc.) level with the brim of the measure.
| 14.. Lat.-Eng. Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 588/12 Hostio, to stryche. 1651 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. vii. 65 The price must be the same with the true Market price; the measure according to the common measure stricked. 1692 Capt. Smith's Seaman's Gram. ii. xxi. 134 Thrust your Ladle into the same [sc. the budge-barrel], filling it full of Powder, and then strick it with a Ruler. |
2. To prepare (lint) for heckling; also, to heckle (flax, etc.).
| 1808 Jamieson s.v., To strick lint, to tie up flax in small handfuls, in preparing it for being milled. 1894 Times 12 Mar. 13/5 [Flax Machinery.] By means of this breaker the middle operation of ‘stricking’ is dispensed with. |
▪ III. strick, a. Sc.
Chiefly in form strict.
[perh. related to strike v. 1 c, to flow.]
Of running water: Swift, rapid.
| 1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell 1075 Furnish him with strength, whereby he may row against the strictest streams of all temptations. a 1808 State, Leslie of Powis v. Fraser of Fraserfield 60 (Jam.) That the said dike..stems and calms the water where the shot is felled, while otherwise it would be a strict current. 1808 Jamieson Strict [ed. 1879 Strick, strict], rapid. The stream's very strict, it runs rapidly. 1812 J. J. Henry Campaign against Quebec 34 Some strict water interfered, but in a few days we came to the first pond. |
| absol. 1825 Jamieson, Strick o' the watter, the most rapid part of any stream. |
▪ IV. strick(e
obs. forms of streak n.1, strike v.