† deˈstrayt Obs.
Also -te, -tte.
[a. OF. destreit (-ait, -oit), mod.F. détroit ‘a strait, a narrow place or passage, a defile, a confined place’:—late pop. L. district-um, from districtus tight, strict, severe, pa. pple. of distringĕre to distrain: cf. district.]
A narrow pass or defile.
| 1481 Caxton Godfrey clxv. 244 The day after passed they by a moche sharp & aspre way, & after descended by a destrayt in to a playne. c 1500 Melusine lvii. 336 On the morne he passed the destraytte & mounted the mountaynes. |