strawn.¹

Brit.

/strɔː/, U.S.

/strɔ/,

/strɑ/

Forms: α. Old English stréaw, strau, Middle English strauȝ, strauue, Middle English–1600s strawe, Middle English strauhe, strawh, Middle English– straw; β. Old English stréow, streu(w, strew (plural strewu); γ. Old English stré, Old English–Middle English, 1800s dialect stree, Middle English–1500s stre (plural stren), Middle English–1500s, 1700s–1800s dialect strey, 1600s–1800s dialect strea, streea, streay (1600s plural strease); δ. Middle English–1800s northern stra (Middle English plural strase), 1500s–1600s Scottish strai, stray (plural strais), 1500s–1800s Scottish strae; ε. Middle English strowh, Middle English–1500s Scottish and northern stro, stroye, 1600s stroe, Middle English–1600s strowe.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: Common Germanic (not found in Gothic): Old English stréaw neuter = Old Frisian strê (North Frisian strâi , stre , West Frisian strie ), Old Saxon, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch strô (Dutch stroo ) neuter, Old High German, Middle High German strô neuter, genitive strawes , strôwes (modern German stroh masculine), Old Norse strá neuter (Swedish strå , Danish straa ) < Germanic *strawo- , < root *strau- : streu- : see strew v.The Old Norse form strá is probably in part the source of the Scottish and Northern stra, strae, etc. and of the North Midland and Northern stro, though in some dialectal areas the normal phonetic development from Old English would issue in forms coincident with these. The Scottish stro of the 15–16th cent. is a literary alteration of stra.

I. Collective singular.

a. The stems or stalks (esp. dry and separated by threshing) of certain cereals, chiefly wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Used for many purposes, e.g. as litter and as fodder for cattle, as filling for bedding, as thatch, also plaited or woven as material for hats, beehives, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > animal food > [noun] > fodder > hay or straw

hayc825

strawc1000

pease-strawa1325

bean-strawc1386

hard meat1481

quitch?1523

meadow1557

pease-bolt1573

salt hay1648

stover1669

barley-straw1678

marsh hay1728

pea straw1735

chaff1772

long forage1794

bog-hay1799

bhusa1829

peavine hay1846

tibbin1900

slough hay1934

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw

strawc1000

gloyc1336

strummel1567

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > for thatching

thacka900

wattlesc900

thatch1398

thackingc1440

litter1453

long straw1591

helm1669

thatching1671

straw1765

yelma1825

thatch-grass1884

c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) iv. 8 Foenum, gærs oððe streow [v.rr. streaw, strau].

c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) xiii. 83 Foenum strew [v.rr. streow, streaw, strau].

c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 114 Bærne þanne streuw.

c1000 Ælfric Homilies I. 404 Sume hi cuwon heora gescy,..sume streaw.

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 859 How is this candele in the strawe y-falle?

1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiv. 233 Whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes.

c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 119 Swepte as þe pament from hilyyng of stree.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7204 His bandes al he brac in tua, Als þai had ben made bot on stra.

1422 J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 239 Suche a stomake is likenyd to the litill fire, that may brande but flex or stree.

a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Isa. lxv. 25 A lioun and an oxe schulen ete stree.

c1440 J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 196 As pilwes been to chaumbris agreable, So is hard strauhe litteer for the stable.

c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert vi. 71 On his bed had our maystir Gilbert..no bolstering but strawe.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 144 Þe chaffe schall Abide togedur with þe strow to me and to my heyres.

1491 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 222/1 For hay & stra price xxiiij s.

1501 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 124 Item,..to James Dog to by stray to the Kingis chamir in Invernes, xvj d.

a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 439 in Poems (1981) 125 And for thy bed tak now ane bunche of stro [rhyme-words tho, ago].

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. iiii^v Horses..must haue..strawe for lytter.

1549 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 43 For Strawe to Stuff the baggs, iiij^d.

1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xxxv. 19 Lyk dust and stro [rhyme-word no] Bene vaneist w^t the wind.

1579 in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) 402/2 Yeirlie ane wedder, ane creill full of peittis and ane sled full of stray.

1593 Extracts Munic. Acc. Newcastle (1848) 31 Paide for stro, candle, drinke, and stringe, which bounde the semynaries armes before he was executed, 9d.

1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 23 in Justa Edouardo King Their lean and flashie songs Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw.

1657 J. Lamont Diary (1830) 100 None should be obleidged to bring any oatts to the English troupe horses any longer, but only stra hireafter.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 173/2 Blend Fodder, is Hay and Straw mixed.

1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. II. xxiii. 233 He dy'd at Hame, lik an auld Dug, on a Puckle o' Strae.

1765 Museum Rusticum 4 221 The straw of rye is much more valuable, both for thatching, bedding and fodder than the straw of wheat.

1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. x. 299 Paolo soon after turned into his bed of straw.

1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 45 The straw of summer wheat is more agreeable to cattle than that produced from winter sowing.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xix. 163 She had the street laid knee-deep with straw; and the knocker put by.

1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Agric. 1868 417 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc.) XV It [sc. wheat] stooled out much more than either, and was uniform in ripeness and length of straw.

1875 W. Paterson Notes Military Surv. (ed. 3) 80 Load of straw = 36 trusses each of 36 lbs.

b. figurative with reference to the small value of straw in comparison with the grain, or to its ready inflammability.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > little worth

strawc1386

c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 603 Me list nat of the chaf or of the stree Maken so long a tale as of the corn.

c1400 Rom. Rose 6354 I..go thurgh alle regiouns, Seking alle religiouns. But to what ordre that I am sworn, I take the strawe, and lete the corn.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 52 Strongest oathes, are straw To th' fire ith' blood.

†c. Thatch, thatched houses. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > types of house > [noun] > house of specific material or construction

thatch-house1521

slate house1554

thack housec1600

frame house1627

log-house1662

straw1665

thatch1693

tin-house1798

fog house1799

leaf house1811

rock house1818

black house1819

blockhouse1821

white house1824

slab-and-bark house1826

brown house1845

brush house1854

soddy1877

hurdle-housea1879

bottle house1913

stucco1922

prefab1942

Portal house1944

Airey1945

yali1962

1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 27 A small Village of Straw unworthy the notice.

d. The colour of straw, a pale brownish-yellow.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow

gullnessa1300

butter colour1629

wheat-colour1711

straw colour1737

jonquil1791

straw-yellow1794

straw1799

wax-yellow1805

sulphur-yellow1816

wax-colour1854

daffodil1855

sulphur-colour1866

sherry colour1871

tea rose1872

mastic1890

wheat1915

sulphur1924

straw-gold1963

buttermilk1977

1799 Courier 15 May 3/2 Mr. Davis, slate-colour and straw.

1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 231/2 Silk Mitts..in the following colors:..sky blue, lemon, straw, cardinal.

1923 Daily Mail 19 Feb. 5 A full range of new colourings, including Peach, Lemon, Straw, Rose.

1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. 15 A heavy, oily liquid, from straw to black in colour.

1978 A. S. Byatt Virgin in Garden xi. 111 Red was defiance, gold avarice, straw plenty. Green was hope, but sea-green was inconstancy.

2. Phrases.

a. to make bricks without straw: said with allusion to Exodus v.The current form and application of the saying are hardly justified by the narrative. The Israelites were not required to make bricks without straw (which was an indispensable binding material for sun-dried bricks), but to gather the straw for themselves instead of having it furnished to them. The phrase, however, now commonly means ‘(to be required) to produce results without the means usually considered necessary’. Cf. the accurate use in quot. 1661.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > practical impossibility > achieve the impossible [verb (intransitive)]

to make bricks without straw1658

1658 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 79 It is an hard task to make bricks without straw.

1661 Dk. Ormonde in 11th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1887) App. v. 10 If they will not let that [act] passe..and yet will have us keepe armys, is it not requireing a tale of bricks, without allowing the straw.

1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 271 It is often good for us to have to make bricks without straw.

1883 M. B. Betham-Edwards Disarmed I. i. 5 The fact is, you are fast being spoiled. But your task from to-day will be to make bricks without straw. No appeal shall induce me to have pity on you.

b. in the straw: in childbed, lying-in. So out of the straw, recovered after childbearing.In quot. 1786 the phrase is taken to refer to the practice of laying down straw (to deaden noise) before a house where there is a confinement. It is doubtful whether this was the original meaning, though the practice was common.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adjective]

childbed1494

in the strawa1661

lying-in1711

sick1828

the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adverb] > recovered after birth

out of the straw1772

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Linc. 149 Our English plain Proverb, De Puerperis, they are in the Straw; shows Feather-Beds to be of no ancient use amongst the Common sort of our Nation.

1705 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus I. iv. 18 We sipp'd our Fuddle, As Women in the Straw do Caudle.

1772 Grimston Papers (MS.) I hope your neighbour, Mrs. G., is safe out of the straw, and the child well.

1786 J. Burgoyne Heiress i. i. 12 You take care to send [sc. cards] to all the lying-in ladies? Prompt. At their doors, Madam, before the first load of straw... Prompt. (Reading his memorandum as he goes out). Ladies in the straw—Ministers, &c...never had a better list [etc.].

1822 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater 119 In the phrase of ladies in the straw, ‘as well as can be expected’.

1832 F. Marryat Newton Forster I. xv. 218 They found the lady in the straw.

c. in the straw: (of corn) not yet threshed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > [adjective] > threshed > not

unthrashen1482

unthrashed1561

unbarrowed1569

unberried1570

in the straw1701

1701 C. Wooley Two Years Jrnl. N.-Y. 91 I paid for two load of Oats in the straw 18 shillings.

1702 Act 1 Anne Stat. ii. c. 10 §14 All Carts with..Corn in the Straw.

d. to run to straw: see to run to —— 6 at run v. Phrasal verbs 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [verb (intransitive)] > grow or produce parts (of plants)

grain1390

ear1442

spindle1577

to run to straw1660

tassel out1757

spean1829

spane1843

silk1878

1660 J. Gauden Κακουργοι 89 Physitians that are not by much study..run out to Atheism (as some corn in lusty ground doth to straw and halm).

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 13 You will find, that in such a case the corn will run out to a straw.

1765 Museum Rusticum 3 157 If they are sown late,..they will be apt to run all to straw.

1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. S. Afr. xii. 215 It..would make corn run entirely to straw.

e. man of straw: (a) a person or thing compared to a straw image; a counterfeit, sham, ‘dummy’; similarly, a face of straw, etc.; (b) an imaginary adversary, or an invented adverse argument, adduced in order to be triumphantly confuted; (c) a person of no substance, esp. one who undertakes a pecuniary responsibility without having the means of discharging it; (d) a fictitious or irresponsible person fraudulently put forward as a surety or as a party in an action.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > forgery, falsification > [noun] > something false or forged

falsehood1340

counterfeiture1548

forgery1574

bastard1581

man of straw1599

counterfeit1613

imitationa1616

mock1646

pasteboard1648

sophistication1664

imposture1699

fraud1725

sham1728

adulteration1756

falsity1780

duff1781

shim-sham1797

shammy1822

Hodge-razor1843

pinchbeck1847

shice1859

cook-up1865

postiche1876

fakery1880

fake1883

bogosity1893

spuriosity1894

dud1897

cluck1904

rake-up1957

bodgie1988

the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > arguments for or against > argument against > instance of

con1590

man of straw1599

antistrophon1611

why-not1611

againsta1817

counter-argument1862

society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [noun] > failure to meet obligations > one who

deficient1697

lame duck1761

defaulter1808

man of straw1823

waddler1831

shicer1896

skip1915

shyster1938

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > fictitious person put forward as party

man of straw1885

1599 1st Pt. Return fr. Parnassus i. i. 231 [He] braggs..of his liberalitie to schollers..: but indeed he is a meere man of strawe, a great lumpe of drousie earth.

1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph ii. i, in Wks. (1623) 283 Idolatrize not so that Sexe, but hold A man of strawe more then a wife of gold [= Fr. proverb: ‘Un homme de paille vaut une femme d'or’].

1624 T. Gataker Discuss. Transubstant. 92 To skirmish with a man of straw of his owne making.

1652 R. Saunders Balm 82 He..strikes at randome at a man of straw.

1675 W. Wycherley Country-wife iv. 67 I will not be your drudge by day, to squire your wife about, and be your man of straw, or scare-crow only to Pyes and Jays; that would be nibling at your forbidden fruit.

1677 2nd Pacquet Advices to Men of Shaftesbury 52 I rather suppose the Some that say so never were men of God's making, but mere men of straw set up by Master Bencher, for a Tryal of his own Skill in Confutation.

a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. vii. 508 The Verity of all such Suppositions denied, off drops the Vizor, and a Face of Straw appears.

1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. ii. 323 What is this but placing the essence of virtue in her outside, making her a man of straw, an empty covering containing nothing within?

1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 167 ‘Man of straw’, a bill-acceptor, without property—‘no assets’.

1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xxi. 221 If the defendant be a man of straw, who is to pay the costs, Sir?

1840 T. De Quincey Style: No. II in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 395/1 It is always Socrates and Crito, or Socrates and Phædrus..in fact, Socrates and some man of straw or good-humoured nine-pin set up to be bowled down as a matter of course.

1876 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 2nd Ser. ii. 67 But no man can dispense with the aid of a living antagonist, free from all suspicion of being a man of straw.

1885 Law Times' Rep. 53 484/1 The real plaintiff may assign his interest to a man of straw, and in such a case the court will require security to be given.

†f. a pad in the straw: see pad n.¹ 2. Obsolete.

†g. Military. for straw: (see quots.). Obsolete. rare. [A rendering of French à la paille, from the phrase aller à la paille, ‘to go in search of straw for the horses’, hence ‘to be allowed a short interval of rest from carrying arms’.]

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military organization > orders > order [interjection] > rest or stand easy

for straw1702

stand easy1859

1702 Mil. Dict. (1704) (at cited word) For Straw, is a word of command to dismiss the Soldiers when they have grounded their Arms, so that they be ready to return to them upon the first firing of a Musket, or beat of Drum. [Hence 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey); and many later Dicts.]

†h. to condemn to straw: to declare worthy of a madhouse. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > drive mad [verb (transitive)] > declare mad

stultify1766

to condemn to straw1779

1779 S. Johnson Dryden in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets III. 180 Virgil would have been too hasty, if he had condemned him [sc. Statius] to straw for one sounding line.

a. Extended to denote the stalks of certain other plants, chiefly pease and buckwheat. poppy straw: see poppy straw n. at poppy n. Compounds 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > stalk, stem, or part of stem > of pease, buckwheat, etc.

strawc1325

c1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 156 Pernet dount de pessas [gloss] pese stree.

1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. 256 Gloss. Vetchie, of Pease strawe.

1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 126 These Bottles are covered with the Straw of Canes.

1760 R. Brown Compl. Farmer: Pt. 2 83 The straw [of buckwheat] is good fodder for cattle.

1795 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Essex 178 To discontinue the practice of burning the straw of coleseed, mustard, coriander, carraway.

1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. II. 628 The haulm or straw of the potatoe.

1892 Gardeners' Chron. 27 Aug. 237/2 Messrs. Carter should have preferred it if the straw [of a pea] had not been so long.

b. U.S. Pine needles.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > [noun] > needle or needles

needle1798

pine-straw1832

pine tag1835

pine needle1844

straw1856

spine1859

fir-brush1879

fir-needle1883

1856 F. L. Olmsted Journey Slave States 321 The leaves, or straw, as its foliage [i.e. that of the yellow pine] is called here.

1860 W. Whitman Amer. Feuillage 36 The ground in all directions is cover'd with pine straw.

c. In plant-names, as camel's straw, sea straw.

ΚΠ

1526 Grete Herball ccclxxxvi. sig. X.iii^v Squinant is an herbe that is called camelles strawe, bycause camelles do eate it.

?1711 J. Petiver Gazophylacii X. Table 91 Sussex Sea-straw.

4. The straw of wheat or other cereal plants plaited or woven to form a material for hats and bonnets; a kind or variety of this material, or an imitation of it (made, e.g., from paper).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw > collectively

straw1730

1730 E. Thomas Metamorphosis of Town 21 Straw, lin'd with Green, their May-day Hats.

1783 J. O'Keeffe Birth-day 17 With her stockings green, and her hat of straw.

1859 Ladies' Cabinet Nov. 278/1 Plain Dunstable straws continue to be worn.

1895 Daily News 20 Mar. 7/1 Paper straws are among the new things... Hats and bonnets made of these straws are inexpensive.

1902 Daily Chron. 1 Feb. 8/3 The newest straw resembles the petals of a flower, and is called chrysanthemum straw; also there is more lace straw going to be worn than last year.

II. A single stem of a cereal, etc.

a. A stem of any cereal plant, esp. when dry and separated from the grain; also, a piece of such a stem.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > stalk, stem, or part of stem

strawc1200

rissomc1450

shot-blade1629

reeda1722

bunt1775

c1200 Vices & Virtues 135 Ne lat hie [Honestas] nawht ðe hande pleiȝende mid stikke, ne mid strawe.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 218 Þe Quene seide ful soð þe wið an stre tende alhire eastres þet Muche kimeð of lutel.

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 1745 In titering, and pursuite, and delayes, The folk devyne at wagginge of a stree.

1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 1837 Lych hornys of a lytell snayl, Wych..for a lytel strawh wyl shrynke.

a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 94 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 302 Clense not thi tethe..With knyfe ne stre, styk ne wande.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. iii. 107 Those that with haste will make a mightie fire, Begin it with weake Strawes .

1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xvii. 290 No more impression..than blows with a straw would give to an Adamant.

1743 A. Pope Ess. Man (new ed.) ii. 276 Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw.

1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 817 The communication may be maintained by any slight tube, as a straw, or a reed.

1897 E. Howlett in W. Andrews' Legal Lore 92 In some manors the surrender [of lands] is effected by the delivery of a rod, in others of a straw.

in extended use.1587 T. Newton tr. L. Lemnius Herbal for Bible xxvii. 150 Another kinde of Reede..hath a long, round and hollowe stalke or strawe, full of knottie ioints.

†b. collective plural = sense 1. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

straw1390

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 143 In stede of mete gras and stres,..He syh.

c1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 362 With rysshes or with stren me most hem bynde [L. tunc iunco aut ulmo aut uimine stringimus].

?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 362 Reasing the devill..With..Palme croces, and knottis of strease.

c. poetic. = oat n. 4. rare. (Cf. quot. 1638 at sense 1a.)

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > pipe > [noun] > made of straw

reeda1387

fistulaa1398

oat reeda1522

quill1567

reed pipe1567

oat-pipe1586

oat1587

straw1598

whistle-stalka1657

oaten1825

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 888 When Shepheards pipe on Oten Strawes .

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 11 Dunce at the best; in Streets but scarce allow'd To tickle, on thy Straw, the stupid Crowd.

d. A straw in the shoe is said to have been the sign by which loafers about the courts of law advertised their readiness to perjure themselves for money. Cf. straw-shoe n. at Compounds 3.

ΚΠ

1762 Fielding's Jonathan Wild i. ii, in Wks. II. 240 An eminent gentleman,..who was famous for so friendly a disposition, that he was bail for above a hundred persons in one year. He had likewise the remarkable humour of walking in Westminster-hall with a straw in his shoe.

e. Botany.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > part of

bladec1450

grass root1474

bent1577

chat1601

grasstop1659

knee1678

locusta1707

straw1776

spikelet1793

strap1793

sheath-scale1796

spiket1796

stragule1821

scutellum1832

scobina1839

rachilla1842

chaff-scale1856

coleorhiza1866

hypoblast1882

lemma1906

1776 J. Lee Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) Explan. Terms 378 Culmus, a Straw, properly the Trunk of Grasses.

1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 80 Straws round, and somewhat flattened.

1821 J. E. Smith Gram. Bot. 6 Culmus, a Culm or Straw, the peculiar stem of Grasses, is leafy, cylindrical [etc.].

1839 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) i. ii. 84 From the caulis, Linnæus, following the older botanists, distinguished the culmus or straw, which is the stem of Grasses.

f. Mining. (See quot. 1886.)

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > mining equipment > [noun] > fuses, etc., used in blasting

smift1839

snoff1860

straw1860

strum1880

squib1881

1860 Eng. & Foreign Mining Gloss. (new ed.) (S. Staffs. Terms) 80 Straw, a fine straw filled with powder and used as a fuse.

1886 J. Barrowman Gloss. Sc. Mining Terms 65 Straw, or strae, a fuse composed of a straw filled with gunpowder.

g. A hollow tube (originally of straw or glass, now usually paper or plastic) through which a drink is sucked.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > drinking-straw

straw1851

sucking-tube1875

1851 London at Table iii. 52 Mississippi Punch. Let them use a glass tube or straw to sip the nectar through.

1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) 90 Cobbler,..a drink made of wine, sugar, lemon, and pounded ice, and imbibed through a straw or other tube.

1872 ‘A. Merion’ Odd Echoes Oxf. 21 Come let the mackerel soused be brought,..The cider-cup and straws.

1883 Schele de Vere in Encycl. Amer. I. 201/1 With the various drinks invented by Americans came into use the straws—slender tubes of wheat, or even of glass—through which beverages are sucked up, or, as it is called, imbibed.

1888 J. Ruskin Præterita III. ii. 57 I..saw the Bishop of Oxford taught by Sir Robert Inglis to drink sherry-cobbler through a straw.

1926 ‘O. Douglas’ Proper Place xxxi. 286 She..soon had Alistair supremely happy drinking lemonade through a straw.

1926 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 4 July 6/1 (advt.) Warm Weather Supplies. Ice Cream Pails. Soda Straws. Lily Drinking Cups.

1953 D. Thomas in Listener 17 Sept. 459/2 They gave him a bottle with a straw.

1967 R. A. Waldron Sense & Sense Devel. vi. 116 A drinking-straw is nowadays usually made of plastic.

1982 H. Engel Ransom Game viii. 45 I settled for a vanilla shake... The straw stood up unaided in..the froth.

h. Used as a means of deciding something by chance (lit. by choosing the shortest (or longest) from among several straws held so as to conceal one end); phr. to draw a straw or straws, to draw a lot or lots.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > make types of choice [verb (intransitive)] > choose or decide by lot

to cast lots (also lot)a1275

to draw lots (also lot)c1425

lot1483

to draw valentines?1553

draw1634

to draw a straw or straws1832

to draw short and long1870

1832 Examiner 614/1 Drawing straws, for guilty or not guilty, were infinitely preferable.

1939 P. G. Wodehouse Uncle Fred in Springtime i. 13 It was the person on whom life had thrust the..task who must be considered to have drawn the short straw.

1959 R. Bradbury Day it rained Forever 47 Sundays we draw straws for who wears the suit the extra night.

6. A small particle of straw or chaff, a ‘mote’.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > a single straw or particle of straw

strawc950

fescue1377

mote1550

haulm1552

feasetraw1595

straw-mote1747

Mott1963

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt., Introd. 17 Lytles strees vel micles beames.

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. vii. 3 Huæt ðonne gesiistu stre vel mot in ego broðres ðines.

c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 405/33 Fistucam, strewu, eglan.

c1400 Rule St. Benet ii. 5 In þi broþir ehe þu ses a stra, And noht a balke in þin aȝen.

c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 6084 Awmber..ryght myghty in werkyng..For to drawe to him strawys.

?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xvi Take good hede that the sherers of all maner of white corne cast nat vp theyr handes hastely for than all the..strawes..flyeth ouer his heed.

1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 99 Amber will draw unto it any manner of strawes except of the hearb Basill.

1750 tr. C. Leonardus Mirror of Stones 108 Being heated with rubbing, gagates attracts straws and chaff.

a. Often used as a type of what is of trifling value or importance, as in not to care a straw (two, three straws), and similar phrases.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth

ivy-leafc1000

needle?c1225

sloec1250

peasea1275

strawc1290

bean1297

nutc1300

buttonc1330

leekc1330

trifle1375

cress1377

goose-wing1377

sop1377

niflec1395

vetcha1400

a pin's head (also point)c1450

trump1513

plack1530

toy1530

blue point1532

grey groat1546

cherry-stone1607

jiggalorum1613

candle-enda1625

peppercorn1638

sponge1671

sneeshing1686

snottera1689

catchpenny1705

potato1757

snuff1809

pinhead1828

traneen1837

a hill of beans1863

gubbins1918

the mind > emotion > indifference > [verb (intransitive)]

to put in no chaloir1477

not to care1490

to let the world wag (as it will)c1525

not to care a chip1556

to hang loose (to)1591

(to bid, care, give) a fig, or fig's end for1632

not to careor matter a farthing1647

not to care a doit1660

(not) to care twopencea1744

not to give a curse (also damn)1763

not to care a dump1821

not to care beans1833

not to care a darn1840

not to give a darn1840

not to care a straw (two, three straws)1861

not to care (also give) a whoop1867

(to care) not a fouter1871

not to care (or give) a toss1876

not to give (also care) a fuck1879

je m'en fiche1889

not to care a dit(e)1907

je m'en fous1918

not to give a shit1918

to pay no nevermind1946

not to give a sod1949

not to give (also care) a monkey's (fuck)1960

not to give a stuff1974

c1290 St. Michael 151 in S. Eng. Leg. 304 Nis nouþe no man aliue þat hire couþe habbe i-wust so wel, Ne so hire i-fed and hire child þat ne costnede nouȝt a stravȝ.

a1300 Havelok 315 He let his oth al ouer-ga, Þerof ne yaf he nouth a stra.

c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 718 Socrates..ne counted nat thre strees Of noght that fortune koude doo.

c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2655 By his sar set he noght a stra.

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 1670 Swiche vsage is Not worþ a strawe.

c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iv. liii. 201 Deth, j drede þee nouht a straw.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. xiv. 22 Thou fers fo, Thy fervent words compt I nocht a stro.

1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H1 I force not argument a straw, Since that my case is past the helpe of law.

1692 R. L'Estrange Fables xxix. 29 'Tis not a Straw matter whether the Main Cause be Right or Wrong.

1780 Mirror No. 103 An explanation, besides exposing me to their resentment (but that I did not value a straw), would have [etc.].

1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iii. 46 Drysdale, who didn't care three straws about knowing St. Cloud.

1887 Spectator 1 Oct. 1304 The British Government..does not care one straw what religion its subjects profess.

†b. a straw for —: an expression of contempt.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > contempt or disesteem [phrase] > expressions of contempt

a straw forc1374

to blow the buck's hornc1405

to go whistle1453

fig's enda1616

to do the other thing1628

indeed1834

(in a) pig's eye (also ear, arse)1847

drop dead1934

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde v. 362 A strawe for alle swevenes signifiaunce!

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 622 But straw vnto hir reed! wolde I [etc.].

c1460 Play Sacram. 205 Yea yea master a strawe for talis that manot sale.

?1499 J. Skelton Bowge of Courte (de Worde) sig. Bij^v Naye strawe for tales thou shalte not rule vs.

1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid i. Prol. 33 Stra for thys ignorant blabring imperfyte Beside thi polyte termis redemyte.

1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Aj^v In whiche poinct, a strawe for all these cankerd philosophers, and sages, who saie [etc.].

1550 J. Heywood Hundred Epigrammes xciv. sig. Cvi^v Back, quoth the wodcock: Straw for thee, quoth the dawe.

1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria iv. ii, in Terence in Eng. 75 A straw for such as would haue us two at debate.

†c. Used as an exclamation, = rubbish! nonsense! Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > nonsense! [interjection]

strawc1412

tilly-vallya1529

flam-flirt1590

fiddlestick1600

fiddle-faddle1671

stuff1701

snuff1725

fudge1766

fiddlededeea1784

rats1816

havers1825

humbug1825

gammon1827

rubbish1839

pickles1846

rot1846

skittle1864

slush1869

flapdoodle1878

quatsch1907

phooey1908

tommyrot1931

balls1938

no shit1939

bollocks1940

phonus-bolonus1955

hockey1961

leave it out!1969

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 1874 Ye straw! let be!

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5191 Straw! be he neuer so harrageous, If he & she shul dwellen in on house, Goode is he suffre.

a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Biii^v Tushe a strawe.

a1529 J. Skelton Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng in Certayne Bks. (?1545) 535 A strawe, sayde Bele, stande vtter, For we haue egges and butter.

a1529 J. Skelton Manerly Margery in Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 28 Tully valy, strawe, let be, I say!

d. A trifle; a frivolous ground of quarrel, a trifling difficulty.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial

gnatc1000

ball play?c1225

smalla1250

triflec1290

fly1297

child's gamec1380

motec1390

mitec1400

child's playc1405

trufferyc1429

toyc1450

curiosity1474

fly-winga1500

neither mass nor matins1528

boys' play1538

nugament1543

knack?1544

fable1552

nincety-fincety1566

mouse1584

molehill1590

coot1594

scoff1594

nidgery1611

pin matter1611

triviality1611

minuity1612

feathera1616

fillip1621

rattle1622

fiddlesticka1625

apex1625

rush candle1628

punctilio1631

rushlight1635

notchet1637

peppercorn1638

petty John1640

emptiness1646

fool-fangle1647

nonny-no1652

crepundian1655

fly-biting1659

pushpin1660

whinny-whanny1673

whiffle1680

straw1692

two and a plack1692

fiddle1695

trivial1715

barley-strawa1721

nothingism1742

curse1763

nihility1765

minutia1782

bee's knee1797

minutiae1797

niff-naff1808

playwork1824

floccinaucity1829

trivialism1830

chicken feed1834

nonsensical1842

meemaw1862

infinitesimality1867

pinfall1868

fidfad1875

flummadiddle1882

quantité négligeable1885

quotidian1902

pipsqueak1905

hickey1909

piddle1910

cream puff1920

squat1934

administrivia1937

chickenshit1938

cream puff1938

diddly-squat1963

non-issue1965

Tinkertoy1972

society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > cause of quarrel > frivolous

straw1692

1692 J. Wilson Vindiciæ Carolinæ i. 17 Here also he quarrels at Straws.

1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. viii. 297 My passions will not, just now, be irritated by straws.

1828 T. Carlyle Burns in Edinb. Rev. Dec. 292 Mighty events turn on a straw.

1858 A. Trollope Dr. Thorne III. iii. 36 When he spoke of the difficulties in his way, she twitted him by being overcome by straws.

8. In certain proverbs, and allusive senses derived from them. (See quots.) See also last straw n. at last adv., adj., and n.⁴ Compounds.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > indication > [phrase] > other phrases or sayings

there is no smoke without firec1422

straw1835

the style is the man1901

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. i. 12 A drowning man will catch at a straw, the Proverb well says.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. xii. 305 Love, like despair, catches at straws.

1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. vi. 195 That hope was the one straw that Mr. Bradshaw clung to.

1908 R. Bagot Anthony Cuthbert xxv. 331 He had been compelled, however, to suppress both his shame and his pride, and grasp at the straw held out to him.

b.1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) ii. 13 As the last straw breaks the laden camel's back, this piece of underground information crushed the sinking spirits of Mr. Dombey.c.1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 31 Take a straw and throw it up into the Air, you shall see by that which way the Wind is.1799 Porcupine's Gaz. 6 Mar. 3/2 ‘Straws’ (to make use of Callender's old hackneyed proverb) ‘Straws serve to show which way the wind blows.’1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIV viii. 119 You know, or don't know, that great Bacon saith ‘Fling up a straw, 'twill show the way the wind blows.’1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi I. ii. iii. 224 The Provençal, who well knew how to construe the wind by the direction of straws.1846 Fraser's Mag. XXXIII. 131 This straw shews the peculiar superstitiousness of Johnson's mind.1852 C. A. Bristed Five Years Eng. University (ed. 2) 365 One of the smallest possible straws may be taken as an indication of the direction in which the aura popularis now set.1861 C. Reade Cloister & Hearth lvi And such straws of speech show how blows the wind.1915 Daily News 28 Dec. 4 Occasional tavern brawls between German and Bulgarian officers are no doubt only straws, but the lesson they point is reinforced by [etc.].1927 A. Adams Ranch on Beaver vii. 99 ‘As straws tell which way the wind blows,’ remarked Sargent, ‘this day's work gives us a clean line on these company cattle.’1939 C. H. Madge & T. Harrisson Brit. by Mass-observ. ii. 107 Yet through agents in the constituencies, and straws in the wind like West Leicester, came a slightly better indication of popular sentiment.1960 C. P. Snow Affair xxv. 334 There have been other things, straws in the wind, maybe, which give reason to think that contemporary standards among a new scientific generation are in a process of decline.1975 Lang. for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xii. 189 These are straws in the wind. What they indicate is the degree to which learning and the acquisition of language are interlocked.1983 Listener 27 Jan. 3/1 As MPs have already pointed out in the debate, Captain Nick Barker of HMS Endurance had detected straws in the wind.

9. In various phrases.

†a. to turn every straw, leave no straw unturned: to search everywhere for something lost.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > search exhaustively

to turn every straw?c1225

to rake (out) hell1542

leave no straw unturned1575

to leave no stone unturned1670

trawl1980

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 241 Secheð hit anan richt & towent uch strea oðet hit beo ifunden.

1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle i. iv. sig. Aiiii So see in all the heape of dust, thou leaue no straw vnturned.

†b. to lay a straw: to stop, desist. there a straw! = here I will stop. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)]

i-swikec893

swikec897

atwindc1000

linOE

studegieOE

stintc1175

letc1200

stuttea1225

leavec1225

astint1250

doc1300

finec1300

blina1325

cease1330

stable1377

resta1382

ho1390

to say or cry ho1390

resta1398

astartc1400

discontinuec1425

surcease1428

to let offc1450

resista1475

finish1490

to lay a straw?a1505

to give over1526

succease1551

to put (also pack) up one's pipes1556

end1557

to stay (one's own or another's) hand1560

stick1574

stay1576

to draw bridle1577

to draw rein1577

to set down one's rest1589

overgive1592

absist1614

subsista1639

beholdc1650

unbridle1653

to knock offa1657

acquiesce1659

to set (up) one's rest1663

sista1676

stop1689

to draw rein1725

subside1734

remit1765

to let up1787

to wind (up) one's pirna1835

to cry crack1888

to shut off1896

to pack in1906

to close down1921

to pack up1925

to sign off1929

the world > action or operation > ceasing > here I will stop [phrase]

there a straw!?a1505

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 241 in Poems (1981) 140 Off sik musik to wryte I do bot dote, Thar-for at this mater a stra I lay.

c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Bii Well, as to that, there lay a strawe tyll anone, that the matter lede vs to speake more of it.

1568 V. Skinner tr. R. González de Montes Discouery Inquisition of Spayne f. 63 There they were enforced to lay a straw.

1580 G. Harvey Three Proper Lett. iii. 49 You may communicate as much..as you list,..with the two Gentlemen: but there a straw, and you loue me: not with any one else, friend or foe.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. ix. xxxvi. 258 If I should lay a straw here, and proceed no further in this discourse of Purples.

1639 Deloney's Gentile Craft: 2nd Pt. (rev. ed.) ii. iii. sig. Civ^v Nay soft, there lay a straw for feare of stumbling quoth Robin.

†c. to break a straw [= French rompre la paille] : to quarrel. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > quarrel [verb (intransitive)]

threapc1175

disputea1225

thretec1400

varyc1450

fray1465

to fall out1470

to set (or fall) at variancec1522

quarrel1530

square1530

to break a straw1542

to be or to fall at (a) square1545

to fall at jar1552

cowl1556

tuilyie1565

jarl1580

snarl1597

to fall foul1600

to cast out1730

fisticuff1833

spat1848

cagmag1882

rag1889

to part brass-rags1898

hassle1949

blue1955

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 61^v I prophecie..that Plato and Dionysius wil ere many dayes to an ende breake a straw betwene theim.

d. to draw (also gather, pick) straws: (of the eyes) to be sleepy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > be or become drowsy [verb (intransitive)] > of eyes

to draw (also gather, pick) straws1672

1672 J. Phillips Maronides v. 131 When the Sun awakes the Daw's, Hobgoblins eyes always draw straws.

1691 A. D'Anvers Academia 36 Their Eyes, by this time all drew Straws.

1694 Gentleman's Jrnl. Apr. 84 It growing then towards eleven a clock, the City Ladies Eyes began to draw Straws.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 214 I'm sure 'tis time for honest Folks to be a-bed..Indeed my Eyes draws Straw.

1796 J. Wolcot Orson & Ellen v. 125 Their eyelids did not once pick straws.

1825 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xix, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 383 But would you believe it, my beloved Shepherd, my eyes are gathering straws.

1892 Illustr. Sporting & Dramatic News 5 Nov. 270/2 ‘That period—probably two o'clock a.m.—when the eyes of chaperons begin to draw straws’.

1942 B. Field Bride of Glory ii. xxiii. 868 ‘My dear, your eyes draw straws; ye should go to bed.’ ‘I think I must, as I can't keep awake though I've been pinching myself this great while.’

e. to have straws in one's hair (and variants): to be insane, eccentric, or distracted.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > be or become mad [verb (intransitive)]

dwelec900

wedec900

awedeeOE

starea1275

braidc1275

ravea1325

to be out of mindc1325

woodc1374

to lose one's mindc1380

madc1384

forgetc1385

to go out of one's minda1398

to wede (out) of, but wita1400

foolc1400

to go (also fall, run) mada1450

forcene1490

ragec1515

waltc1540

maddle?c1550

to go (also run, set) a-madding (or on madding)1565

pass of wita1616

to have a gad-bee in one's brain1682

madden1704

to go (also be) off at the nail1721

distract1768

craze1818

to get a rat1890

to need (to have) one's head examined (also checked, read)1896

(to have) bats in the belfryc1901

to have straws in one's hair1923

to take the bats1927

to go haywire1929

to go mental1930

to go troppo1941

to come apart1954

the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [verb (intransitive)] > be slightly mad > eccentric or cranky

bees in the head or the brains1553

fanaticize1715

to get a rat1890

(to have) bats in the belfryc1901

to have straws in one's hair1923

to take the bats1927

1890 ‘L. Carroll’ Nursery ‘Alice’ x. 39 That's the March Hare, with the long ears, and straws mixed up with his hair. The straws showed he was mad—I don't know why. Never twist up straws among your hair, for fear people should think you're mad!]

1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves vii. 72 When your uncle the Duke begins to feel the strain a bit and you find him in the blue drawing-room sticking straws in his hair, old Glossop is the first person you send for.

1925 P. G. Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves vi. 142 His [sc. a psychiatrist's] outlook on life has become so jaundiced through constant association with coves who are picking straws out of their hair.

1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon xviii. 346 (heading) Straws in the hair.

1962 ‘S. Woods’ Bloody Instr. ix. 100 Dennis Dowling..brought with him an atmosphere of mingled drama and insanity. Antony thought: ‘definitely straws in the hair’ as soon as he opened the door.

10. Applied to various things shaped like a straw.

†a. plural = jack-straws, jackstraw n. 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games played with straws or sticks > [noun]

spillikins1734

straw1765

jackstraws1795

long-straws1835

pick-up-sticks1936

1765 H. Walpole Let. to C'tess Suffolk 9 July They (I mean my bones) lie in a heap over one another like the bits of ivory at the game of straws.

b. Australian. A walking-stick insect, a phasmid.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Phasmida > member of

walking leaf1718

wandering1798

straw1827

1827 H. Hellyer in J. Bischoff Van Diemen's Land (1832) 177 I caught one of those curious insects the native straw; it is, I apprehend, a nondescript.

c. A long slender needle.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing > equipment for > needle > types of

pack-needle1327

packing needle1597

Whitechapel needle1737

quadrille1818

blunt1833

sharps1834

darning-needle1848

between1849

ground-down1862

straw1862

darner1882

wool-needle1882

stocking needle1886

swing needle1954

1862 M. T. Morrall Hist. Needle-making 39 The Straws are suited for millinery and light work, and they are often made double length, for sewing fents in Manchester.

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straws..are needles of a particular description, used in hat and bonnet making.

d. A slender kind of clay pipe.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > articles or materials used in smoking > [noun] > pipe > clay-pipe > slender

straw1882

1882 Worcs. Exhib. Catal. iii. 28 Tobacco pipes. 10-inch Straws.

e. cheese straw: a thin stick of pastry, containing cheese. potato straw: see potato straw n. at potato n. Compounds 2.

ΚΠ

1877 Cassell's Dict. Cookery 119.

1892 T. F. Garrett & W. A. Rawson Encycl. Pract. Cookery I. 350.

f. A plastic phial in which bull semen is stored for artificial insemination.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > apparatus > [noun] > for storing or containing

boat1847

collecting box1857

moist chamber1869

Pasteur flask1869

plate1886

Petri dish1892

Pasteur pipette1899

Stender dish1900

straw1966

tissue-bank1968

1966 Canad. Jrnl. Compar. Med. & Vet. Sci. 30 109 The use of plastic straws would..encourage volume storage of high quality semen from young sires.

1966 Canad. Jrnl. Compar. Med. & Vet. Sci. 30 111/1 Better fertility results can be anticipated with straw packaged semen as compared with that packaged in glass ampoules.

1982 Sunday Times 12 Sept. 45/2 The firm..specialises in artificial insemination..in cattle, and expects Pickles [sc. a bull] eventually to produce 40,000 ‘straws’, or phials, of semen a year. These straws will be frozen, and sold to cattle breeders all over the world at about £50 a time.

III. Something made of straw.

11. A straw hat.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw

straw hat1453

ruskie1825

straw1829

basher1901

straw basher1901

1829 P. Egan Boxiana New Ser. II. 681 Hall..went briskly into the ring, and tossed up his Dunstable straw.

1849 Theatr. Programme No. 5. 45/2 (advt.) Charles Vyse, manufacturer of Leghorns and Straws to the British and Foreign Courts.—30 Ludgate-street.

1863 Baily's Monthly Mag. Jan. 357 I hung my saturated ‘straw’ upon a bush.

1902 R. Hichens Londoners 159 I've only brought a straw.

IV. Something resembling straw in colour.

12. In book-names of certain moths, with reference to their colour (see quots.).

ΚΠ

1775 M. Harris Eng. Lepidoptera 45 Phalæna..310 Straw, clouded.

1819 G. Samouelle Entomologist's Compend. 427 Botys cespitalis. The Straw-barred.

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 49 The Straw Underwing..appears about June.

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 116 The Straw Belle.

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 188 The Dingy Straw (Depressaria costosa).

1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 193 The Dingy Straw (Recurvaria Silacella).

1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 98 The Straw Belle (Aspilates gilvaria).

1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 295 The Straw Under-wing (Cerigo Cytherea).

Compounds

C1. attributive, passing into adj., with sense ‘made of straw’. See also straw hat n.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [adjective] > made of straw

straw1442

strawen1459

strawish1562

strawy1568

sheaved1609

1442 R. Cottingham Will in H. A. Lee-Dillon Fairholt's Costume in Eng. (ed. 3) II. (Gloss.) s.v. A blak stra cappe.

1577 R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Hist. Trauayle W. & E. Indies f. 254^v Theyr houses are..layde all ouer with straw pallettes, wherevppon they doe both sit in steede of stooles, and lye in theyr clothes, with billets vnder theyr heades.

1624 Fairfax Inventory in Archaeologia (1884) 48 148 A strowbasket.

1679 M. Rusden Further Discov. Bees 2 The keeping of Bees in Box-hives, I call by the name of Colonies, to distinguish them from those kept only in Straw-hives.

1699 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 9) 134 Cover also your most delicate Stone-fruit and Murals, skreening them with Straw-hurdles.

1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont Curiosities in Husbandry & Gardening 257 Cover the Earth with good Straw-Mats.

1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxii. 188 A straw bonnet with a pink ribbon.

1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos vii. 87 Hovering around the straw-pallet of some Lazarus-beggar.

C2. Obvious combinations:

a. Simple attributive, with the sense ‘of or pertaining to straw or straws’, as in straw-end, straw-fire, straw-market, straw-mow, straw-pad, straw pulp, straw-rick, straw-stack; designating a receptacle for straw, as straw-barn, straw-barton, straw-house, straw-loft, straw rack.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [adjective] > made of straw > of or relating to straw

strawy1552

straw1557

stramineous1624

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > [noun] > pulp

pulp1727

stuff1745

paper pulp1839

wood-pulp1876

ground wood1885

mechanical wood pulp1887

straw pulp1888

soda pulp1893

sulphate pulp1907

1557 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandrie sig. B.ii But serue them with haye, while thy straw stoouer last: they loue no more strawe, they had rather to fast.

a1618 J. Sylvester tr. Battail of Yvry in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1099 When his Fury glowes, 'Tis but as Straw-fire.

1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia ii. vii. 196 How like you (John) your lodging and your fare? Willis said, Well, had I a straw-pad here.

1662 A. Cooper Στρατολογια vi. 52 A timerous Footman..In a Straw-mough had hid himself for fear.

1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Aaa 4^v/2 A Straw-house, paillier, le lieu où l'on tient la paille.

1721 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (ed. 5) I. 143 What Corn you stack must be bound up in Sheaves, that so the Ears of the Corn may be turned inward, and the Straw-ends out.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 213 Nor did he think it more dangerous than other grass, unless cattle came hungry to it out of the straw-barton.

a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 215 They..were foddered in the straw-house.

a1747 E. Holdsworth Remarks & Diss. Virgil (1768) 323 A street..formerly called La Rue de Fourrage: where the straw-market was kept.

1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. i. 15 The straw-barn..should be so large as to pile up the straw of two stacks when threshed.

1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §1142 Straw-racks are placed in the sheds.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. iv. iii. 246 They lie in straw-lofts, in woody brakes.

1886 W. J. Tucker Life E. Europe 187 Strawstacks, and haystacks, and maizestacks.

1888 C. F. Cross & E. J. Bevan Text-bk. Paper-making vi. 101 The presse-päte system is largely adopted for straw pulp.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxxii. 144 To inquire how the advanced cows were getting on in the straw-barton.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles III. xlvii. 130 The old men on the rising straw-rick.

1937 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper 238/2 Straw pulp is prepared by cooking straw with soda.

b. objective, as straw-carrier, straw-clutching, straw-cutter, straw-cutting, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > [noun] > unfounded hope

forlorn hopea1643

wish-thinking1930

wishful thinking1932

a wing and a prayer1943

straw-clutching1962

hope-against-hope1968

1656 J. Collop Poesis Rediviva 64 Th' straw-gatherers of Egypt.

1790 W. Marshall Agric. Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Midland Counties II. 443 Straw-cutter, a cutter of straw, &c. into chaf.

1805 Trans. Soc. Arts 23 51 He purchased a straw-chopper, that the horses corn might be mixed with straw.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. v. ix. 292 After all that straw-burning, fire-pumping, and deluge of musketry.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 196 Straw-cutters are of very various construction.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 196 Straw-cutting machines.

1869 Spons' Dict. Engin. I. 229 The straw-shaker [in a threshing-machine] should pass the straw at the rate of 75 to 80 ft. a-minute.

1884 J. Scott Barn Implements (1885) 145 The ‘Straw-Elevator,’ driven in connection with the threshing-machine.

1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 23 The straw carrier of the thrashing machine.

1962 L. Davidson Rose of Tibet iii. 65 Every bit of straw-clutching, every bit of hope..was followed instantly by a reaction of dismay.

c. instrumental and parasynthetic, as straw-bottomed, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, straw-thatched adjs.

ΚΠ

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. i. f. 96/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I In some places it [sc. malt] is dryed with woode alone, or strawe alone..but of all the strawe dryed is the most excellent.

1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. iv. ii. 14 So rides he mounted on the market-day Vpon a straw-stu'ft pannell, all the way.

1613 A. Standish New Direct. 21 Cottages and such like Straw-thatched houses.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 773 Thir [sc. the bees'] Straw-built Cittadel.

1738 P. Whitehead Manners 4 'Midst the mad Mansions of Moor-fields, I'd be A straw-crown'd Monarch, in mock majesty.

1746 J. Warton Ode to Fancy 30 Where never human art appear'd, Nor ev'n one straw-rooft cott was rear'd.

1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas II. iv. xi. 114 We quitted the hermitage, leaving,..two old straw-bottomed chairs.

1751 T. Gray Elegy v. 6 The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed.

1820 J. Keats Cap & Bells xxix Many as bees about a straw-capp'd hive.

1824 T. Campbell Theodric 501 Till reaching home, terrific omen! there The straw-laid street preluded his dispair.

1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xli. 445 Had he been inspecting a wooden statue, or a straw-embowelled Guy Faux.

1899 W. D. Howells Ragged Lady 286 The tubes of straw-barreled Virginia cigars.

C3. Special combinations. Also straw yard n.

straw bail n. (see quots.).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > bailing or bail > [noun] > worthless bail

Jew bail1771

straw bail1853

1853 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 7 86/1 Straw bail is, I believe, a term still used by attorneys to distinguish insufficient bail from ‘justifiable’ or sufficient bail.

1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 455 Straw bail, worthless bail; bail given by ‘men of straw’, i.e. persons who pretend to the possession of property, but have none.

† straw-bait n. Obsolete = straw-worm n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > division Endopterygota or Metabola (winged) > [noun] > order Trichoptera > family Phryganeidae or genus Phryganea > member of (caddis-fly) > larva of

codwormc1450

casewormc1565

codbait1620

caddis-worm1627

straw-bait1632

caddis1653

cockspur1653

piper1653

ruffcoat1653

straw-worm1653

cadew1668

cad1674

caddis-bait1833

1632 G. Sandys in tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xv. Notes 520 So Cod-bates, and Straw-bates which ly vnder water [turn] into May-flies.

straw ballot n. = straw vote n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote

straw vote1866

straw ballot1932

straw poll1932

1932Straw ballot [see straw poll n.].

1967 Canad. Ann. Rev. 1966 63 RIN..polled 27·7 per cent of the vote in a Université de Montréal straw ballot.

straw basher n. slang a straw hat or boater.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw

straw hat1453

ruskie1825

straw1829

basher1901

straw basher1901

1901 Westm. Gaz. 9 Aug. 8/1 They parade in the grounds of the Exhibition with well-cut clothes and straw ‘bashers’.

1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle ii. xii. 421 A stiff, board-like straw-basher.

straw-bed n. (a) a bed or mattress filled with straw, a paillasse; (b) = straw ride n. (a).

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > mattress > filled with straw

pallet1370

palliasse1506

pad1554

pouffe1583

straw-bed1585

pallet bed1620

pallet-couch1815

straw tick1931

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > riding school > track in > laid with straw

straw-bed1856

straw ride1856

1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 247/1 Culcita stramentitia,..a straw bed, or pad of straw.

1669 A. Woodhead tr. Life St. Teresa (1671) ii. 263 The Straw-bed, the ordinary Bed of the Discalced.

1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. ix. 352/1 Some [colts] being at once physicked, and exercised afterwards upon straw-beds, &c.

straw bid n. U.S. (see quot. 1889).

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > buying > [noun] > bidding or offering to buy > the bid or offer > worthless bid

straw bid1889

1889 J. S. Farmer Americanisms Straw bid, a worthless bid; one not intended to be taken up.

Categories »

straw bidder n. U.S.

straw-blond adj. (also straw-blonde) applied to hair of a pale, yellowish blond colour; also absol., this colour.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [adjective] > light hair > having

white-headed1571

whitehead1577

fair-haired1598

silver-haired1678

light-haired?1746

blonde-locked1837

tow-headed1850

tow-haired1887

peroxide1899

blondie1905

straw-blond1928

platinum blonde1932

1928 E. O'Neill Strange Interlude i. 25 Her straw-blond hair, framing her sunburned face, is bobbed.

1973 A. Hunter Gently French v. 47 Her hair was a warm straw blonde.

straw-board n. coarse yellow millboard made from straw pulp, used for making boxes, book-covers, etc.; also, a piece of this material.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > materials made from paper or pulp > [noun] > millboard > types of

straw-board1850

pulp board1899

corrugated strawboard1912

1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Arts & Manuf. 305 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 1) VI [The] said process is peculiar to the use of strawboard.

1862 Harper's Mag. June 135/1 He was making a personal examination of straw-board shoes provided for those who have gone to be soldiers.

1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Straw-board.

1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 409 In the said slots were placed sheets of straw-board of uniform texture and thickness.

1885 G. F. Green in Rattray & Mill Forestry & Forest Products xviii. 474 Wood-pulp boards, straw-boards, and mill-boards are sometimes referred to as ‘paste-boards’.

1956 H. Williamson Methods Bk. Design xix. 321 Millboards are harder and more solid than strawboards.

straw boater n. = boater n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw > types of

Dunstable1805

Leghorn1810

skimmer1830

Tuscan hat1830

boating hat1840

mushroom1843

Milan hat1855

toering1855

bergère hat1873

Zulu hat1880

boater1882

boat hat1889

straw yard1900

donkey's breakfast1901

brimmer1902

straw boater1905

balibuntal1913

1905 Daily Chron. 2 June 4/7 In a shop on Ludgate-hill, there are placards announcing ‘straw boaters’.

1965 G. Jones Island of Apples i. v. 47 Because after breakfast, to show big, he went out for a ride on the bike, wearing his new straw boater with the red silk ribbon.

straw bond n. U.S. (see quot. 1889 and cf. straw bail n.).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal obligation > bond or recognizance > [noun] > worthless

scrap of paper1840

straw bond1889

1889 Cent. Dict. at Bond Straw bond, a bond upon which either fictitious names or the names of persons unable to pay the sum guaranteed are written as names of sureties.

straw boots n. dialect wisps of straw tied round the feet and legs; hence as a nickname for the 7th Dragoon Guards.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and feet > [noun] > other

straw boots1707

bootikin1885

1707 tr. M.-C. d'Aulnoy Diverting Wks. 493 Admiral Sharp-Cap dispatcht away John Prattle-Box, Courier in Ordinary of the Closet, with his Straw-Boot [Fr. botté de paille], to inform the King.

1832 D. Vedder Orcadian Sketches in Poems (1878) 298 His legs were completely enveloped in twisted straw, generally known by the name of ‘strae boots’.

1879 All the Year Round 5 Apr. 370/1 The Seventh [Dragoon Guards] has been known indifferently as the Black Horse,..and as the Virgin Mary's Guard; but its more popular pseudonym is the Straw Boots.

straw boss n. originally U.S. a subordinate or assistant foreman.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman > assistant or subordinate

straw boss1894

pannikin boss1898

pannikinc1926

1894 W. H. Carwardine Pullman Strike ix. 117 These employees..had been so ground between the upper millstone of ‘low wages’ and the nether millstone of ‘high rents’, the continued oppression of the ‘straw bosses’, [etc.].

1915 S. Lewis Trail of Hawk ii. xiii. 132 He had laughed away the straw boss who tried to make him go ask for a left-handed monkey-wrench.

1945 ‘N. Shute’ Most Secret viii. 172 Them Frenchies won't work right without they have a straw-boss.

1976 L. St. Clair Fortune in Death x. 98 Dimestores, cafeterias, moving to a new job..every time some greasy straw boss ran his hand up my skirt.

strawboy n. Irish English (see quots.).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > persons and characters > [noun] > participants in other specific festivities

savage mana1577

Saturnaliana1665

souler1778

wren-boys?a1800

Jack in the green1835

carnivaller1881

orgiophant1886

strawboy1894

carnivalite1896

garlander1939

1894 C. R. Browne in Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1893–6 (1896) 3 352 Mr. Michael Lavelle..informs me that he has heard that sometimes, on the occasion of a wedding, ‘straw-boys’ go round with long straw masks on, and if they do not get either money or liquor will threaten to break the windows and furniture of the house.

1937 C. M. Arensberg Irish Countryman iii. 106 The ‘strawboys’—privileged masqueraded figures whose mock-dangerous invasion of the wedding feast has been dignified to represent a last remnant of a primeval bride-capture.

1968 A. Gailey in Folk Life VI. 90 In parts of Fermanagh there survive even to the present day traces of an old ceremony performed by groups of..young men, disguised latterly in..straw masks.., but in former times..wearing complete suits of straw. They interrupted the festivities following the solemnisation of marriages in the country districts, and were known simply as the Strawboys.

straw braid n. = straw plait n.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw

straw plait1800

straw braid1864

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from other vegetable fibres > [noun] > woven straw

straw braid1864

Milan1895

balibuntal1913

Bangkok1920

paribuntal1926

1864 Harper's Mag. Oct. 578/2 He laid all kinds of evil results at the door of straw braid.

1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2417/1 The Leghorn, or Italian straw-braid.

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 463/2 Straw Braids are made in very long lengths, and are sewn together by means of long thin Needles, called Straws.

straw-bug n. slang a strawberry.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > berry > [noun] > strawberry

strawberryc1000

straw-bug1908

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > edible berries > strawberry

strawberryc1000

straw-bug1908

1908 A. Huxley Let. 29 June (1969) 28 Latest News Stop Press Strawbugs for tea.

1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 155 These syllables [sc. -bug, -gog, etc.] are used..to replace the second half of a word, as: newbug, rasbug, strawbug, goosegog, and wellygogs.

† straw-burn v. Obsolete (transitive) to fertilize (land) by burning straw upon it.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > fertilize or manure [verb (transitive)] > treat with other natural fertilizer

marlc1265

chavec1420

chalk?1578

lime1649

soot1707

sand1721

straw-burn1799

sprat1832

loam?1842

guanize1843

guano1847

bone1873

herring1879

1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 267 He straw-burnt a piece in the middle of a field preparing for turnips.

† straw-burning n. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > use of other natural fertilizers

marlingc1450

liming1620

chalking1626

sanding1670

shelling1780

straw-burning1799

ashing1842

vermiculture1976

1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 268 This straw-burning husbandry I found again at Belesby.

straw cat n. the pampas cat ( Cent. Dict. 1891).

ΚΠ

1891 Cent. Dict. VII. Straw cat.

straw-ciré n. (see ciré adj.).

ΚΠ

1928 Daily Express 15 June 5/5 Trimmings of coloured felt flowers on shapes of straw-ciré.

† straw coat n. Obsolete a coat trimmed with straw.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > types of > other

russet coatc1425

syon1511

party coat1559

patch-coat?1608

undercoat1648

turncoat1726

wambais1761

straw coat1783

coatlet1795

Wellington coat1809

redingote1823

shad-belly1842

cutaway1849

reliever1850

blouse1861

shooter1870

square-cut1893

stroller1901

Redfern1909

sherwani1911

teddy bear1925

swagger coat1933

swing-coat1935

Crombie1951

tent coat1961

1783 European Mag. & London Rev. Mar. 190/1 Paillasses, or straw-coats, are very much in use.

straw cotton n. (see quot. 1882).

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > for other specific purpose

packthread1304

pack-line1447

thrum1466

pack-twine1645

whip1825

basket-twine1833

stocking-yarn1835

draw thread1839

mending1882

straw cotton1882

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straw Cotton..is a wiry kind of thread, starched and stiff,..exclusively made for use in the manufacture of straw goods.

strae-dead adj. [compare Old Norse strádauða] Scottish quite dead.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > dead person or the dead > [adjective]

deadOE

lifelessOE

of lifeOE

storvena1225

dead as a door-nail1362

ydead1387

stark deadc1390

colda1400

bypast1425

perishedc1440

morta1450

obita1450

unquickc1449

gone?a1475

dead and gone1482

extinct1483

departed1503

bygonea1522

amort1546

soulless1553

breathless1562

parted1562

mortified1592

low-laid1598

disanimate1601

carcasseda1603

defunct1603

no morea1616

with God1617

death-stricken1618

death-strucken1622

expired1631

past itc1635

incinerated1657

stock-dead1662

dead as a herring1664

death-struck1688

as dead as a nit1789

(as) dead as mutton1792

low1808

laid in the locker1815

strae-dead1820

disanimated1833

ghosted1834

under the daisies1842

irresuscitable1843

under the sod1847

toes up1851

dead and buried1863

devitalized1866

translated1869

dead and done (for, with)1886

daid1890

bung1893

(as) dead as the (or a) dodo1904

six feet under1942

brown bread1969

1820 R. Mudie Glenfergus II. xviii. 218 Gin ye dinna haste ye, doakter,..it may be strae dead afore ye come on till 't.

straw-death n. (Sc. strae-death) [compare Norwegian straadaude, Danish straadød] a natural death in one's bed.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > death > manner of death > [noun] > natural death

(to die) a natural deatha1522

straw-death1787

natural causes1834

1787 R. Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook xxv, in Poems (new ed.) 63 Whare I kill'd ane, a fair strae-death, By loss o' blood, or want o' breath.

1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. iv. 145 Dead is he, a bed-death,..A straw-death, a cow's-death.

1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer I. xxiii. 305 She's gane, an' no by a fair strae-deith (death on one's own straw) either.

† straw deer n. Obsolete an alleged name for the hare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) > [noun] > family Leporidae > genus Lepus (hares) > lepus europaeus (hare)

harea700

wimountc1280

wood-catc1280

babbart?a1300

ballart?a1300

bigge?a1300

goibert?a1300

grasshopper?a1300

lightfoot?a1300

long-ear?a1300

make-fare?a1300

pintail?a1300

pollart?a1300

purblind?a1300

roulekere?a1300

scot?a1300

scotewine?a1300

side-looker?a1300

sitter?a1300

westlooker?a1300

wort-cropper?a1300

break-forwardc1300

broom-catc1300

swikebertc1300

cawel-herta1325

deuberta1325

deudinga1325

fern-sittera1325

fitelfoota1325

foldsittera1325

furze cata1325

scutardea1325

skikarta1325

stobherta1325

straw deera1325

turpina1325

skulker1387

chavarta1400

soillarta1400

waldeneiea1400

scutc1440

coward1486

wata1500

bawtiec1536

puss1575

watkin1585

malkin1706

pussy1715

bawd1785

lion1825

dew-hopper-

a1325 Names of Hare in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 133 The strauder, the lekere.

† straw-device n. Obsolete a worthless or harmless device.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [noun] > inefficacy > that which is

straw-device1601

herb John1614

cardinal's blessing1702

ineffectuality1838

scrap of paper1840

1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iii. iii. sig. F^v As if I knew not how to entertaine These Straw-deuises.

straw-drain n. a drain filled with straw (Webster 1828–32).

straw-driver n. ? one who practises horses on a straw-ride.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > rider > [noun] > one who practises on straw-ride

straw-driver1828

1828 Sporting Mag. 22 183 Mr. Darvill..commenced life as a straw-driver in a country racing stable.

straw-dry adj. as dry as straw, very dry.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > dryness > [adjective] > very

bone?a1300

for-drya1386

bone-dryc1480

siticulous1620

chippy1850

powder-dry1934

straw-dry1951

1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 47 Unlike the plant called ‘everlasting’, this [sc. poetry] Never straw-dry, sapless, or sterile is.

1963 Glamour Nov. 23 Even hair that's straw-dry turns silky.

straw-dynamite n. (see quot. 1889).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > [noun] > other specific explosives

powdera1393

gunpowder1411

saltpetre1501

petre1586

halinitre1608

sal-prunella1664

petre-salt1708

xyloidin1838

gun-cotton1846

pyroxyle1847

pyroxylin1847

pyroglycerin1850

xylidine1850

nitroglycerine1852

gun-sawdust1853

picrate1854

trinitroglycerin1864

nitroleum1866

trinitrin1866

dynamite1867

giant-powder1872

dualin1874

fulgurite1874

rendrock1874

glyoxilin1875

lithofracteur1875

trinitro-cellulose1875

white gunpowder1875

gelatin1878

cotton-powder1879

vigorite1879

blasting gelatine1881

Hercules powder1881

saxifragine1881

tonite1881

dynamogen1882

forcite1883

haloxylin1883

jelly powdera1884

nitro-gelatinea1884

panclastite1883

potentite1883

sebastinea1884

kolloxylin1884

hellhoffite1885

rackarock1885

securite1886

kinetite1887

roburite1887

carbo-dynamite1888

fortis1889

gelatine dynamite1889

gelignite1889

seranine1889

straw-dynamite1889

carbonite1890

amberite1891

nitro powder1892

Schnebelite1893

westfalite1894

thorite1899

soup1902

ammonal1903

cheddite1908

trinitrotoluene1908

Samsonite1909

tolite1909

trinitrotoluol1910

trotyl1910

glyceryl trinitrate1912

T.N.T.1915

nitro1916

amatol1918

cyclonite1923

hexogen1923

lox1923

pentaerythritol tetranitrate1923

hexite1931

aurantia1940

jelly1941

RDX1941

1889 J. Cundill Dict. Explosives 61 Straw Dynamite is a mixture of nitro-glycerine with nitro-cellulose made from straw.

straw embroidery n. (see quot. 1882).

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > embroidery or ornamental sewing > other types of embroidery

cutwork1470

Alexandrinec1500

loose work1548

Irish stitch1560

opus anglicumc1840

opus anglicanum1848

chikan1858

straw embroidery1862

Greek embroidery1882

Hardanger1904

Assisi1923

hedebo1932

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > embroidery or ornamental sewing > other types of embroidery

straw embroidery1862

phulkari1872

bullion embroidery1882

Paris embroidery1882

pattern darning1906

needle-weaving1932

Bargello1942

1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4432 Straw embroidery.

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straw Embroidery..consists in tacking upon black Brussels silk net or yellow coloured net, leaves, flowers, corn, butterflies, &c. that are stamped out of straw, and connecting these with thick lines made of yellow filoselle.

straw-fiddle n. a xylophone in which the wooden bars are supported on rolls of twisted straw.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > percussion instrument > [noun] > xylophone > other xylophone types

ballarda1382

ballards1623

sticcado1776

balafon1797

straw-fiddle1867

mbila1928

gamelan1934

mbira1948

1867 J. Tyndall Sound iv. 137 Instead of using the cord, the bars may rest at their nodes on cylinders of twisted straw; hence the name straw-fiddle sometimes applied to this instrument.

straw-foot n. see hay-foot n.

straw-fork n. a pitchfork.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > [noun] > fork > pitch-fork

pikeforkc1275

shakefork1338

pickfork1349

pitchfork1364

pikea1398

bicornec1420

hay-fork1552

shed-fork1559

straw-fork1573

pikel1602

sheppeck1602

corn-pike1611

wain-forka1642

pick1777

pickle1847

peak1892

1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 14^v Flayle, strawfork [1577 strawforke] & rake.

1858 J. Slight & R. S. Burn Bk. Farm Implements 479 The straw-fork..has rather longer prongs.

straw-gold n. the colour of straw; = sense 1d above.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow

gullnessa1300

butter colour1629

wheat-colour1711

straw colour1737

jonquil1791

straw-yellow1794

straw1799

wax-yellow1805

sulphur-yellow1816

wax-colour1854

daffodil1855

sulphur-colour1866

sherry colour1871

tea rose1872

mastic1890

wheat1915

sulphur1924

straw-gold1963

buttermilk1977

1963 A. Lubbock Austral. Roundabout 3 Here are fine expenses of pasture, turning to straw-gold in summer.

1977 J. Aiken Last Movement i. 20 Her hair had been..a pale Scottish straw-gold.

straw-knife n. a knife used for cutting and splitting straw.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > knife > [noun] > other knives

bollock knifec1400

paring knife1415

spudc1440

pricking-knifec1500

shaving-knife1530–1

by-knifec1570

heading knife1574

stock knife1582

drawing knife1583

bung-knife1592

weeding knife1598

drawing knife1610

heading knife1615

draw knife1679

dressing knife1683

redishing knife1688

mocotaugan1716

skinning knife1767

paper knife1789

draw shave1824

leaf-cutter1828

piece-knife1833

nut-pick1851

relic knife1854

butch1859

straw-knife1862

sportsman's companion1863

ulu1864

skinner1872

hacker1875

over-shave1875

stripping-knife1875

Stanley knife1878

flat-back1888

gauge-knife1888

tine-knife1888

plough1899

band-knife1926

X-Acto1943

shank1953

box cutter1955

ratchet knife1966

ratchet1975

1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 6527 Chaff machine knives, and straw knives.

straw-laths n. plural the laths on which straw is fastened in thatching.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > lath

lathc1000

stooth1295

stone-lath1370

straw-laths1391

studc1525

pantile lath1690

reeper1734

tile-laths1844

1391 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 107 Et in cc stralates [printed stralanes] emp. pro domo in tenura Joh. Knygth, 16d.

1433–4 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 54 In m.ccc strelattes emptis pro grangia decimali ibidem reparanda, 6s. 6d.

1485 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1885) III. 231, vij. bonches of stree lattes.

straw-like adj. resembling straw; figurative light or worthless as straw.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless > as specific thing

strawy1583

chaffy1594

ficulnean1716

straw-like1742

1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Second 9 He loudly pleads The straw-like Trifles, on Life's common Stream.

1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. VI. Pl. 45 The shafts of the feathers are produced into long lanceolate straw-like and straw-coloured processes.

strawline n. a light rope used to pull a heavier one into position, esp. in Logging.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > lumbering equipment > light line controlling heavy cable

trip-line1905

strawline1956

1956 Amer. Speech 31 152 Strawline,..a small~size wire rope which hauls the heavy logging cables into position.

1975 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 22 June 7/4 A strawline was taken across the river by boat, then each cable was pulled to the other side by the horses.

straw-man n. (a) a figure of a man made of straw; (b) a ‘man of straw’ (Webster 1911).

ΚΠ

1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 567 A scarre-crowe to make them afraide, as wee vse to deale with little children and with birdes by puppets and strawe-men.

1890 J. G. Frazer Golden Bough II. 247 Sometimes a straw man was burned in the ‘hut’.

1896 L. T. Hobhouse Theory of Knowl. 59 The straw man was easily enough knocked over by the critic who set him up.

1934 A. Woollcott While Rome Burns 76 I have often challenged one of these straw-man authorities.

1946 A. Koestler Thieves in Night 328 The authorities..only got the Rumanian captain and his crew, who couldn't give away much as all their dealings had been with straw men under assumed names.

1981 ‘M. Hebden’ Pel is Puzzled xviii. 180 He seemed active enough, but there seemed an awful lot lacking in him... Was he really just a straw man?

straw-mote n. dialect a single stalk of straw.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > a single straw or particle of straw

strawc950

fescue1377

mote1550

haulm1552

feasetraw1595

straw-mote1747

Mott1963

1747 W. Gould Acct. Eng. Ants 69 The Hill Ants collect a vast Quantity of Pieces of dry Sticks, Chips, Straw-Motes, and other Rubbish.

1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. xxii. 275 Then Gabe brought her some of the new cider, and she must needs go drinking it through a strawmote.

straw-necked adj. having straw-like feathers on the neck; designating an Australian ibis (see quot. 1848).

ΚΠ

1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. VI. Pl. 45 Geronticus [or Carphibis] spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis.

Categories »

straw-needle n. a long thin needle used for sewing together straw braids ( Cent. Dict.); cf. 10c.

straw-pale adj. rare as pale as straw.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > pale yellow

gull13..

flaxen?1523

palew1547

straw-coloured1585

branlie1589

straw colour1589

flaxy1634

festucine1646

sulphureous1656

flaxenish1661

butter colour1665

strawy1668

straw-yellow1794

bombycinous1796

sulphur-coloured1811

sherry-yellow1813

sulphur-yellow1816

bombasic1825

straw1842

wax-coloured1842

stramineous1845

maize-coloured1852

daffodil1855

daw1856

flax1873

sherry-coloured1875

mastic1890

sulpho-chromic1895

ochroid1897

wheat-coloured1898

sulphurous1899

sulphury1900

tea rose1900

straw-pale1922

1922 W. B. Yeats Seven Poems 13 Under the shadow of stupid straw-pale locks.

straw paper n. paper made from straw bleached and pulped.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [noun] > paper made from other materials

rice paper1808

straw paper1854

1854 Househ. Words IX. 86/2 A secret mode of making straw-paper.

1862 C. M. Yonge Countess Kate i. 5 Forgetting everything in the interest of her drawing on a large sheet of straw paper.

straw plait n. (also straw plat) a plait or braid made of straw, used for making straw hats, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw

straw plait1800

straw braid1864

1800 Repertory of Arts (1801) XV. 19 A new and improved Manufacture of Straw-Plat, made of split Straw.

1842 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland II. 164 The manufacture of straw-plait is to be found in every house.

straw-plaiter n.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [noun] > manufacture of fabric from specific materials > manufacture of articles made from twigs, etc. > one who plaits straw

straw-plaiter1846

1846 C. G. F. Gore Sketches Eng. Char. (1852) 68 The hereditary race of straw-plaiters.

straw-plaiting n. and gerund; also concrete an article made of straw plait.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > basket-making > [noun] > specific processes

pairing1611

straw-plaiting1834

flat-skein work1912

waling1912

1834 J. R. McCulloch Dict. Commerce (1844) at Hats The wives and daughters of the farmers used to plait straw for making their own bonnets, before straw-plaiting became established as a manufacture.

1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons I. ii. ii. 65 He would stand an hour at a cottage door, admiring the little girls who were straw-platting.

1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4849 Straw plaitings, straw hats and bonnets.

straw poll n. originally U.S. = straw vote n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote

straw vote1866

straw ballot1932

straw poll1932

1932 C. E. Robinson Straw Votes iv. 52 The newspaper or magazine conducting a straw poll by the ballot-in-the-paper method prints a straw ballot in the publication for a certain period of time before an election.

1944 Chicago Tribune 26 Oct. 12/2 (heading) New deal area lifts F.D.R. in N.Y. straw poll.

1958 Spectator 6 June 722/1 In my own straw poll I found two electors who were going to vote Liberal for the first time.

1978 Nature 6 Apr. 484/3 A straw poll taken three weeks ago at a meeting of faculty professors..voted 23 to 3 against approving the proposal.

straw potatoes n. very thinly cut potato chips.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > prepared vegetables and dishes > [noun] > prepared potatoes > fried potatoes > chips

chip1854

potato chip1854

French fried potatoes1856

chip potatoes1869

pommes frites1879

French fries1902

straw potatoes1904

game chip1914

French frieds1918

pommes allumettes1962

1904 C. H. Senn New Cent. Cookery Bk. (rev. ed.) 596 Pommes Pailles (Straw Potatoes).

1959 Times 6 Apr. 13/5 Serve with sweet corn and straw potatoes.

straw ride n. (a) a track laid with straw on which horses are exercised in winter; (b) U.S. ‘a pleasure-ride in the country, taken in a long wagon or sleigh filled with straw, upon which the party sit’ ( Cent. Dict.).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > outing or excursion > [noun] > type of

summering1606

campaign1748

shoemaker's holiday1768

water-party1771

marooning1773

maroon1779

junket1814

pleasure cruise1837

straw ride1856

camp1865

pleasure cruising1880

hanami1891

mystery tour1926

mystery trip1931

awayday1972

gimmick1998

society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > riding school > track in > laid with straw

straw-bed1856

straw ride1856

society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > riding in a vehicle > [noun] > a ride in a vehicle > ride in a wheeled vehicle > ride in types of horse-drawn vehicle

buggy ride1849

straw ride1856

hayride1896

1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. x. 357/1 The straw-ride is generally made by using the long litter of the stable laid down round a large paddock.

1881 P. B. Du Chaillu Land Midnight Sun II. 434 A custom which reminded me of the ‘straw ride’ parties common in the rural districts of the United States.

1895 Outing 26 408/1 Invitations to sailing parties, straw rides or picnics.

straw ring n. a ring of plaited straw used to support a round-bottomed vessel in an upright position.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > a stand or support to raise from the ground > circular

straw ring1651

ring-standc1865

1651 J. French Art Distillation i. 41 The lower gourd or recipient set upon straw-rings.

straw rope n. a rope made of twisted straw, used e.g. to secure thatching; also attributive.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > [noun] > thatching equipment > rope for fastening down thatch

simmon1616

straw rope1763

thack-rape1876

1763 ‘T. Insulanus’ Treat. Second Sight 9 As he was going out of his house on a morning, he put on straw-rope garters instead of those he formerly used.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. vii. iii. 413 See Pichegru's soldiers, this hard winter,..in their ‘straw-rope shoes and cloaks of bass-mat’.

1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 11 Assorted straw..is put..thick above the turnips for thatch, and kept down by means of straw-ropes.

† straw-shoe n. Obsolete a name given to a hanger-on of the law-courts (to be known from his having a straw sticking out of his shoe) who was prepared to swear to anything wanted.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > perjury > perjurer

manswareOE

false swearerc1380

mansworna1400

forswearer1413

perjurera1500

perjured1526

perjurea1540

post-knight1576

knight of the post1580

perjurator1689

mounter1781

stag1823

straw-shoe1826

subornee1890

perjuress1898

1826 Q. Rev. 33 344 We have all heard of a race of men, who used in former days to ply about our own courts of law, and who, from their manner of making known their occupation, were recognized by the name of Straw-shoes. An advocate or lawyer, who wanted a convenient witness, knew by these signs where to meet with one,..‘Then come into court and swear it?’ And Straw-shoe went into the court and swore it.

straw-splitter n. one who makes over-nice distinctions, a quibbler.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun] > practitioner of

ergonist1593

ergo1597

subtilist1610

subtilizer1611

ob-and-soller1678

ergoteerer1687

splitter1699

ergotist1739

subtlist1829

straw-splitter1844

hair-splitter1851

pilpulist1859

ergoteur1881

1844 W. H. Smyth Cycle Celestial Objects I. 384 (note) A certain straight-laced straw-splitter objects to the terms rising and setting, as being highly improper when applied to fixed points.

straw-splitting n. and adj. (see split v. 5b and cf. hair-splitter n., straw-splitting n. and adj.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [adjective]

oversubtle1490

curious1585

metaphysical1646

metaphysic1663

subtle1668

subtilizing1683

hair-splitting1820

straw-splitting1828

pilpulistic1878

the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun] > action of

subtlinga1398

subtilizing1596

subtilization1755

hair-splitting1826

straw-splitting1828

1828 E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. Rationalist Char. I. i. 16 The endless straw-splittings of the schoolmen.

1828 E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. Rationalist Char. I. i. 35 Abounding..in straw-splitting distinctions.

1881 J. Morley Life R. Cobden II. xxxi. 323 They were wasting time in mere strawsplitting.

straw-stem n. a wine-glass stem pulled out of the substance of the bowl; hence, a wine glass having such a stem ( Cent. Dict.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass

glassc888

verrea1382

Venice glass1527

rummer1625

bottle glass1626

Malaga glassa1627

flute1649

flute-glass1668

long glass1680

mum-glass1684

toasting glass1703

wine glass1709

tulip-glass1755

tun-glass1755

water glass1779

tumbler-glass1795

Madeira glass1801

tumbling glass1803

noggin glass1805

champagne glass1815

table glass1815

balloon glass1819

copita1841

firing glass1842

nobbler1842

thimble glass1843

wine1848

liqueur-glass1850

straw-stem1853

pokal1854

goblet1856

mousseline1862

pony glass1862

long-sleever1872

cocktail glass1873

champagne flute1882

yard-glass1882

sleever1896

tea-glass1898

liqueur1907

dock-glass1911

toast-master glass1916

Waterford1916

stem-glass1922

Pilsner glass1923

Amen glass1924

ballon1930

balloon goblet1931

thistle glass1935

snifter1937

balloon1951

shot-glass1955

handle1956

tulip1961

schooner1967

champagne fountain1973

the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass > stem

shank1553

shafta1837

stem1836

baluster stem1844

straw-stem1853

stalka1864

Silesian stem1929

1853 G. W. Curtis Potiphar Papers ii. 66 A dozen of the delicately engraved straw-stems that stood upon the waiter.

straw tick n. [tick n.²] U.S. a straw-filled mattress.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > mattress > filled with straw

pallet1370

palliasse1506

pad1554

pouffe1583

straw-bed1585

pallet bed1620

pallet-couch1815

straw tick1931

1931 Amer. Speech 7 169 Most of these [mattresses and ticks] were filled with corn husks, straw or hay, and were called ‘husk ticks’, ‘hay mattresses’, and ‘straw ticks’.

1949 L. I. Wilder Long Winter viii. 68 They must fill the straw ticks with hay, because there was no straw in this new country.

1954 W. Faulkner Fable 195 He was sleeping on a straw tick in the lodge room over the store.

straw vote n. originally U.S. an unofficial vote taken in order to indicate the relative strength of opposing candidates or issues.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote

straw vote1866

straw ballot1932

straw poll1932

1866 Cleveland (Ohio) Leader 6 Oct. 4/2 A straw vote taken on a Toledo train yesterday resulted as follows; A. Johnson 12; Congress, 47.

1887 San Francisco Thunderbolt 4 Nov. 1. The straw vote taken at the ‘Report’ office is unreliable.

1906 Daily Chron. 24 Oct. 4/5 ‘Straw’ votes, which have recently been taken in the New York State campaign, indicate that Mr. Hearst will be badly beaten.

1977 R. Holland Self & Social Context v. 175 A special session on legal registration produced a straw vote which revealed an even balance of viewpoint.

straw wine n. a luscious wine made from grapes dried or partly dried in the sun on straw.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > other types of wine

myrrhed winec1429

tyre1429

rochec1440

rospeys1440

raspis?a1450

caprika1475

garnade?c1475

whippetc1500

rampion?1520

Ribadavia1542

romanisk1542

Mountrosec1560

raspis wine1562

whippincrusta1593

charneco1594

absinthites1601

pitch wine1601

myrrh wine1609

wine of astonishment1611

deal1613

Sherant1620

Sheranino1632

Grecoa1660

Langoon1674

generousa1717

Massic1751

rasped wine1823

straw wine1824

vin de paille1833

vin jaune1833

vino tierno1911

mistelle1924

rancio1939

boerwyn1947

1824 A. Henderson Hist. Wines 172 The liquor..receives the name of straw wine (vin de paille).

1833 C. Redding Hist. Mod. Wines vii. 208 Straw wines are made in Franconia.

straw wisp n. a small bundle or twist of straw; also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > [noun] > bundle of hay or straw

feald?14..

bottlec1405

bunch?a1505

straw wisp?a1513

stook1571

wad1573

botillage1576

windling1645

pottle1730

bolting1784

strike1817

windle1825

wap1828

hay-pack1841

wake1847

plack1871

tibbin1900

a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 207 Stra wispis hingis owt.

1679 in J. Evelyn Pomona in Sylva (ed. 3) 407 Instead of the straw-wisp, a Basket may be fitted, which with a little straw within will keep the Fruit in better order.

?1760 S. Haliburton Mem. Magopico v. 19 The Man is..a plain undesigning Noseo'wax, a Cat's Paw, a Straw wisp.

straw-wisped adj. enwreathed with a straw wisp.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > intertwining or interweaving > [adjective] > intertwined or interwoven > with something spec.

straw-wisped1860

1860 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne in New Monthly Mag. Feb. 142 In spite of his smock-frock and his straw-wisped hat, and his false whiskers,..she knew him for her brother.

† straw woad n. Obsolete some variety of woad.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > plants used in dyeing > [noun] > woad

woadeOE

ash of Jerusalem1548

glastum?c1550

pastel1578

straw woad1612

dyer's woad1860

dyer's weed1866

1612 Bk. Customs & Valuation in A. Halyburton Ledger (1867) 332 Woad called Iland grene woad or stra woad the tun 1^cxx li.

straw-work n. work done in plaited straw.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making of other specific articles or materials > [noun] > work done in specific materials

straw-worka1684

waxwork1723

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1646 (1955) II. 501 They are curious in Straw-worke among the Nunns, even to admiration.

1798 Monthly Mag. June 429 The principal manufacture is straw-work..which is confined to about six or eight miles round Dunstable.

1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 463 Cabinets, boxes, and cardcases..decorated with a covering of coloured Straw-work, much resembling Mosaic work.

straw-worm n. the caddis-worm.

ΘΚΠ

codwormc1450

casewormc1565

codbait1620

caddis-worm1627

straw-bait1632

caddis1653

cockspur1653

piper1653

ruffcoat1653

straw-worm1653

cadew1668

cad1674

caddis-bait1833

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler xii. 232 There is also another Cadis called by some a Straw-worm .

straw-yellow n. and adj. = straw colour n., straw-coloured adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow

gullnessa1300

butter colour1629

wheat-colour1711

straw colour1737

jonquil1791

straw-yellow1794

straw1799

wax-yellow1805

sulphur-yellow1816

wax-colour1854

daffodil1855

sulphur-colour1866

sherry colour1871

tea rose1872

mastic1890

wheat1915

sulphur1924

straw-gold1963

buttermilk1977

the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > pale yellow

gull13..

flaxen?1523

palew1547

straw-coloured1585

branlie1589

straw colour1589

flaxy1634

festucine1646

sulphureous1656

flaxenish1661

butter colour1665

strawy1668

straw-yellow1794

bombycinous1796

sulphur-coloured1811

sherry-yellow1813

sulphur-yellow1816

bombasic1825

straw1842

wax-coloured1842

stramineous1845

maize-coloured1852

daffodil1855

daw1856

flax1873

sherry-coloured1875

mastic1890

sulpho-chromic1895

ochroid1897

wheat-coloured1898

sulphurous1899

sulphury1900

tea rose1900

straw-pale1922

1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. 29 Straw yellow.

1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic xxxiv. 285 The finest varieties..transmit a straw-yellow tint.

1843 J. E. Portlock Rep. Geol. Londonderry 214 From yellowish-brown to rich straw yellow.

Draft additions June 2016

straw mushroom n. a small edible mushroom, Volvariella volvacea (family Pluteaceae), pale tan in colour with a darker brown cap, cultivated primarily on rice straw in East and South-East Asia and harvested while immature, before the cap is fully developed; also paddy-straw mushroom.

ΚΠ

1919 North-China Herald 4 Oct. 23/2 They are what are known as straw mushrooms, that is those grown on straw.

1975 J. H. Burnett Mycogenetics xii. 235 The mushroom industry, based on Agaricus bisporus in Europe and Asia and on the paddy-straw mushroom (Volvariella spp.) and shiitake..in Asia.

2007 Vanity Fair June 175/2 Then a miso soup with straw mushrooms and seaweed.

2014 T. Cotter Org. Mushroom Farming 354 (caption) Paddy straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) showing the beautiful sac-like volvas and pinkish gills they develop as they mature.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	straw
释义	strawn.¹ Brit. /strɔː/, U.S. /strɔ/, /strɑ/ Forms: α. Old English stréaw, strau, Middle English strauȝ, strauue, Middle English–1600s strawe, Middle English strauhe, strawh, Middle English– straw; β. Old English stréow, streu(w, strew (plural strewu); γ. Old English stré, Old English–Middle English, 1800s dialect stree, Middle English–1500s stre (plural stren), Middle English–1500s, 1700s–1800s dialect strey, 1600s–1800s dialect strea, streea, streay (1600s plural strease); δ. Middle English–1800s northern stra (Middle English plural strase), 1500s–1600s Scottish strai, stray (plural strais), 1500s–1800s Scottish strae; ε. Middle English strowh, Middle English–1500s Scottish and northern stro, stroye, 1600s stroe, Middle English–1600s strowe. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Common Germanic (not found in Gothic): Old English stréaw neuter = Old Frisian strê (North Frisian strâi , stre , West Frisian strie ), Old Saxon, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch strô (Dutch stroo ) neuter, Old High German, Middle High German strô neuter, genitive strawes , strôwes (modern German stroh masculine), Old Norse strá neuter (Swedish strå , Danish straa ) < Germanic strawo- , < root strau- : streu- : see strew v.The Old Norse form strá is probably in part the source of the Scottish and Northern stra, strae, etc. and of the North Midland and Northern stro, though in some dialectal areas the normal phonetic development from Old English would issue in forms coincident with these. The Scottish stro of the 15–16th cent. is a literary alteration of stra. I. Collective singular. 1. a. The stems or stalks (esp. dry and separated by threshing) of certain cereals, chiefly wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Used for many purposes, e.g. as litter and as fodder for cattle, as filling for bedding, as thatch, also plaited or woven as material for hats, beehives, etc. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > animal food > [noun] > fodder > hay or straw hayc825 strawc1000 pease-strawa1325 bean-strawc1386 hard meat1481 quitch?1523 meadow1557 pease-bolt1573 salt hay1648 stover1669 barley-straw1678 marsh hay1728 pea straw1735 chaff1772 long forage1794 bog-hay1799 bhusa1829 peavine hay1846 tibbin1900 slough hay1934 society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw strawc1000 gloyc1336 strummel1567 society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > for thatching thacka900 wattlesc900 thatch1398 thackingc1440 litter1453 long straw1591 helm1669 thatching1671 straw1765 yelma1825 thatch-grass1884 c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) iv. 8 Foenum, gærs oððe streow [v.rr. streaw, strau]. c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) xiii. 83 Foenum strew [v.rr. streow, streaw, strau]. c1000 Sax. Leechd. III. 114 Bærne þanne streuw. c1000 Ælfric Homilies I. 404 Sume hi cuwon heora gescy,..sume streaw. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 859 How is this candele in the strawe y-falle? 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiv. 233 Whan he streyneth hym to streche þe strawe is his schetes. c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 119 Swepte as þe pament from hilyyng of stree. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7204 His bandes al he brac in tua, Als þai had ben made bot on stra. 1422 J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 239 Suche a stomake is likenyd to the litill fire, that may brande but flex or stree. a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Isa. lxv. 25 A lioun and an oxe schulen ete stree. c1440 J. Lydgate Horse, Goose & Sheep 196 As pilwes been to chaumbris agreable, So is hard strauhe litteer for the stable. c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Gilbert vi. 71 On his bed had our maystir Gilbert..no bolstering but strawe. c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 144 Þe chaffe schall Abide togedur with þe strow to me and to my heyres. 1491 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 222/1 For hay & stra price xxiiij s. 1501 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 124 Item,..to James Dog to by stray to the Kingis chamir in Invernes, xvj d. a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 439 in Poems (1981) 125 And for thy bed tak now ane bunche of stro [rhyme-words tho, ago]. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. iiii^v Horses..must haue..strawe for lytter. 1549 in A. Feuillerat Documents Office of Revels Edward VI (1914) 43 For Strawe to Stuff the baggs, iiij^d. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) xxxv. 19 Lyk dust and stro [rhyme-word no] Bene vaneist w^t the wind. 1579 in 3rd Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1872) 402/2 Yeirlie ane wedder, ane creill full of peittis and ane sled full of stray. 1593 Extracts Munic. Acc. Newcastle (1848) 31 Paide for stro, candle, drinke, and stringe, which bounde the semynaries armes before he was executed, 9d. 1638 J. Milton Lycidas in Obsequies 23 in Justa Edouardo King Their lean and flashie songs Grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw. 1657 J. Lamont Diary (1830) 100 None should be obleidged to bring any oatts to the English troupe horses any longer, but only stra hireafter. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 173/2 Blend Fodder, is Hay and Straw mixed. 1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. II. xxiii. 233 He dy'd at Hame, lik an auld Dug, on a Puckle o' Strae. 1765 Museum Rusticum 4 221 The straw of rye is much more valuable, both for thatching, bedding and fodder than the straw of wheat. 1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. x. 299 Paolo soon after turned into his bed of straw. 1832 E. Lankester Veg. Substances Food 45 The straw of summer wheat is more agreeable to cattle than that produced from winter sowing. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xix. 163 She had the street laid knee-deep with straw; and the knocker put by. 1869 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Agric. 1868 417 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (40th Congr., 3rd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc.) XV It [sc. wheat] stooled out much more than either, and was uniform in ripeness and length of straw. 1875 W. Paterson Notes Military Surv. (ed. 3) 80 Load of straw = 36 trusses each of 36 lbs. b. figurative with reference to the small value of straw in comparison with the grain, or to its ready inflammability. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > little worth strawc1386 c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 603 Me list nat of the chaf or of the stree Maken so long a tale as of the corn. c1400 Rom. Rose 6354 I..go thurgh alle regiouns, Seking alle religiouns. But to what ordre that I am sworn, I take the strawe, and lete the corn. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 52 Strongest oathes, are straw To th' fire ith' blood. View more context for this quotation †c. Thatch, thatched houses. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > dwelling place or abode > a dwelling > a house > types of house > [noun] > house of specific material or construction thatch-house1521 slate house1554 thack housec1600 frame house1627 log-house1662 straw1665 thatch1693 tin-house1798 fog house1799 leaf house1811 rock house1818 black house1819 blockhouse1821 white house1824 slab-and-bark house1826 brown house1845 brush house1854 soddy1877 hurdle-housea1879 bottle house1913 stucco1922 prefab1942 Portal house1944 Airey1945 yali1962 1665 T. Herbert Some Years Trav. (new ed.) 27 A small Village of Straw unworthy the notice. d. The colour of straw, a pale brownish-yellow. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow gullnessa1300 butter colour1629 wheat-colour1711 straw colour1737 jonquil1791 straw-yellow1794 straw1799 wax-yellow1805 sulphur-yellow1816 wax-colour1854 daffodil1855 sulphur-colour1866 sherry colour1871 tea rose1872 mastic1890 wheat1915 sulphur1924 straw-gold1963 buttermilk1977 1799 Courier 15 May 3/2 Mr. Davis, slate-colour and straw. 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 231/2 Silk Mitts..in the following colors:..sky blue, lemon, straw, cardinal. 1923 Daily Mail 19 Feb. 5 A full range of new colourings, including Peach, Lemon, Straw, Rose. 1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. 15 A heavy, oily liquid, from straw to black in colour. 1978 A. S. Byatt Virgin in Garden xi. 111 Red was defiance, gold avarice, straw plenty. Green was hope, but sea-green was inconstancy. 2. Phrases. a. to make bricks without straw: said with allusion to Exodus v.The current form and application of the saying are hardly justified by the narrative. The Israelites were not required to make bricks without straw (which was an indispensable binding material for sun-dried bricks), but to gather the straw for themselves instead of having it furnished to them. The phrase, however, now commonly means ‘(to be required) to produce results without the means usually considered necessary’. Cf. the accurate use in quot. 1661. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > practical impossibility > achieve the impossible [verb (intransitive)] to make bricks without straw1658 1658 in F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 79 It is an hard task to make bricks without straw. 1661 Dk. Ormonde in 11th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1887) App. v. 10 If they will not let that [act] passe..and yet will have us keepe armys, is it not requireing a tale of bricks, without allowing the straw. 1874 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 1st Ser. 271 It is often good for us to have to make bricks without straw. 1883 M. B. Betham-Edwards Disarmed I. i. 5 The fact is, you are fast being spoiled. But your task from to-day will be to make bricks without straw. No appeal shall induce me to have pity on you. b. in the straw: in childbed, lying-in. So out of the straw, recovered after childbearing.In quot. 1786 the phrase is taken to refer to the practice of laying down straw (to deaden noise) before a house where there is a confinement. It is doubtful whether this was the original meaning, though the practice was common. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adjective] childbed1494 in the strawa1661 lying-in1711 sick1828 the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adverb] > recovered after birth out of the straw1772 a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Linc. 149 Our English plain Proverb, De Puerperis, they are in the Straw; shows Feather-Beds to be of no ancient use amongst the Common sort of our Nation. 1705 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus I. iv. 18 We sipp'd our Fuddle, As Women in the Straw do Caudle. 1772 Grimston Papers (MS.) I hope your neighbour, Mrs. G., is safe out of the straw, and the child well. 1786 J. Burgoyne Heiress i. i. 12 You take care to send [sc. cards] to all the lying-in ladies? Prompt. At their doors, Madam, before the first load of straw... Prompt. (Reading his memorandum as he goes out). Ladies in the straw—Ministers, &c...never had a better list [etc.]. 1822 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater 119 In the phrase of ladies in the straw, ‘as well as can be expected’. 1832 F. Marryat Newton Forster I. xv. 218 They found the lady in the straw. c. in the straw: (of corn) not yet threshed. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation of grain > [adjective] > threshed > not unthrashen1482 unthrashed1561 unbarrowed1569 unberried1570 in the straw1701 1701 C. Wooley Two Years Jrnl. N.-Y. 91 I paid for two load of Oats in the straw 18 shillings. 1702 Act 1 Anne Stat. ii. c. 10 §14 All Carts with..Corn in the Straw. d. to run to straw: see to run to —— 6 at run v. Phrasal verbs 2. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [verb (intransitive)] > grow or produce parts (of plants) grain1390 ear1442 spindle1577 to run to straw1660 tassel out1757 spean1829 spane1843 silk1878 1660 J. Gauden Κακουργοι 89 Physitians that are not by much study..run out to Atheism (as some corn in lusty ground doth to straw and halm). a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 13 You will find, that in such a case the corn will run out to a straw. 1765 Museum Rusticum 3 157 If they are sown late,..they will be apt to run all to straw. 1857 D. Livingstone Missionary Trav. S. Afr. xii. 215 It..would make corn run entirely to straw. e. man of straw: (a) a person or thing compared to a straw image; a counterfeit, sham, ‘dummy’; similarly, a face of straw, etc.; (b) an imaginary adversary, or an invented adverse argument, adduced in order to be triumphantly confuted; (c) a person of no substance, esp. one who undertakes a pecuniary responsibility without having the means of discharging it; (d) a fictitious or irresponsible person fraudulently put forward as a surety or as a party in an action. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > forgery, falsification > [noun] > something false or forged falsehood1340 counterfeiture1548 forgery1574 bastard1581 man of straw1599 counterfeit1613 imitationa1616 mock1646 pasteboard1648 sophistication1664 imposture1699 fraud1725 sham1728 adulteration1756 falsity1780 duff1781 shim-sham1797 shammy1822 Hodge-razor1843 pinchbeck1847 shice1859 cook-up1865 postiche1876 fakery1880 fake1883 bogosity1893 spuriosity1894 dud1897 cluck1904 rake-up1957 bodgie1988 the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > [noun] > arguments for or against > argument against > instance of con1590 man of straw1599 antistrophon1611 why-not1611 againsta1817 counter-argument1862 society > trade and finance > management of money > insolvency > [noun] > failure to meet obligations > one who deficient1697 lame duck1761 defaulter1808 man of straw1823 waddler1831 shicer1896 skip1915 shyster1938 society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > fictitious person put forward as party man of straw1885 1599 1st Pt. Return fr. Parnassus i. i. 231 [He] braggs..of his liberalitie to schollers..: but indeed he is a meere man of strawe, a great lumpe of drousie earth. 1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph ii. i, in Wks. (1623) 283 Idolatrize not so that Sexe, but hold A man of strawe more then a wife of gold [= Fr. proverb: ‘Un homme de paille vaut une femme d'or’]. 1624 T. Gataker Discuss. Transubstant. 92 To skirmish with a man of straw of his owne making. 1652 R. Saunders Balm 82 He..strikes at randome at a man of straw. 1675 W. Wycherley Country-wife iv. 67 I will not be your drudge by day, to squire your wife about, and be your man of straw, or scare-crow only to Pyes and Jays; that would be nibling at your forbidden fruit. 1677 2nd Pacquet Advices to Men of Shaftesbury 52 I rather suppose the Some that say so never were men of God's making, but mere men of straw set up by Master Bencher, for a Tryal of his own Skill in Confutation. a1734 R. North Examen (1740) iii. vii. 508 The Verity of all such Suppositions denied, off drops the Vizor, and a Face of Straw appears. 1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. ii. 323 What is this but placing the essence of virtue in her outside, making her a man of straw, an empty covering containing nothing within? 1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 167 ‘Man of straw’, a bill-acceptor, without property—‘no assets’. 1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) xxi. 221 If the defendant be a man of straw, who is to pay the costs, Sir? 1840 T. De Quincey Style: No. II in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Sept. 395/1 It is always Socrates and Crito, or Socrates and Phædrus..in fact, Socrates and some man of straw or good-humoured nine-pin set up to be bowled down as a matter of course. 1876 L. Stephen Hours in Libr. 2nd Ser. ii. 67 But no man can dispense with the aid of a living antagonist, free from all suspicion of being a man of straw. 1885 Law Times' Rep. 53 484/1 The real plaintiff may assign his interest to a man of straw, and in such a case the court will require security to be given. †f. a pad in the straw: see pad n.¹ 2. Obsolete. †g. Military. for straw: (see quots.). Obsolete. rare. [A rendering of French à la paille, from the phrase aller à la paille, ‘to go in search of straw for the horses’, hence ‘to be allowed a short interval of rest from carrying arms’.] ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military organization > orders > order [interjection] > rest or stand easy for straw1702 stand easy1859 stand easy1859 1702 Mil. Dict. (1704) (at cited word) For Straw, is a word of command to dismiss the Soldiers when they have grounded their Arms, so that they be ready to return to them upon the first firing of a Musket, or beat of Drum. [Hence 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey); and many later Dicts.] †h. to condemn to straw: to declare worthy of a madhouse. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > drive mad [verb (transitive)] > declare mad stultify1766 to condemn to straw1779 1779 S. Johnson Dryden in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets III. 180 Virgil would have been too hasty, if he had condemned him [sc. Statius] to straw for one sounding line. 3. a. Extended to denote the stalks of certain other plants, chiefly pease and buckwheat. poppy straw: see poppy straw n. at poppy n. Compounds 2. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > stalk, stem, or part of stem > of pease, buckwheat, etc. strawc1325 c1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesw. in Wright Voc. 156 Pernet dount de pessas [gloss] pese stree. 1579 E. K. in E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. 256 Gloss. Vetchie, of Pease strawe. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 126 These Bottles are covered with the Straw of Canes. 1760 R. Brown Compl. Farmer: Pt. 2 83 The straw [of buckwheat] is good fodder for cattle. 1795 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Essex 178 To discontinue the practice of burning the straw of coleseed, mustard, coriander, carraway. 1805 R. W. Dickson Pract. Agric. II. 628 The haulm or straw of the potatoe. 1892 Gardeners' Chron. 27 Aug. 237/2 Messrs. Carter should have preferred it if the straw [of a pea] had not been so long. b. U.S. Pine needles. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > conifers > [noun] > needle or needles needle1798 pine-straw1832 pine tag1835 pine needle1844 straw1856 spine1859 fir-brush1879 fir-needle1883 1856 F. L. Olmsted Journey Slave States 321 The leaves, or straw, as its foliage [i.e. that of the yellow pine] is called here. 1860 W. Whitman Amer. Feuillage 36 The ground in all directions is cover'd with pine straw. c. In plant-names, as camel's straw, sea straw. ΚΠ 1526 Grete Herball ccclxxxvi. sig. X.iii^v Squinant is an herbe that is called camelles strawe, bycause camelles do eate it. ?1711 J. Petiver Gazophylacii X. Table 91 Sussex Sea-straw. 4. The straw of wheat or other cereal plants plaited or woven to form a material for hats and bonnets; a kind or variety of this material, or an imitation of it (made, e.g., from paper). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw > collectively straw1730 1730 E. Thomas Metamorphosis of Town 21 Straw, lin'd with Green, their May-day Hats. 1783 J. O'Keeffe Birth-day 17 With her stockings green, and her hat of straw. 1859 Ladies' Cabinet Nov. 278/1 Plain Dunstable straws continue to be worn. 1895 Daily News 20 Mar. 7/1 Paper straws are among the new things... Hats and bonnets made of these straws are inexpensive. 1902 Daily Chron. 1 Feb. 8/3 The newest straw resembles the petals of a flower, and is called chrysanthemum straw; also there is more lace straw going to be worn than last year. II. A single stem of a cereal, etc. 5. a. A stem of any cereal plant, esp. when dry and separated from the grain; also, a piece of such a stem. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > stalk, stem, or part of stem strawc1200 rissomc1450 shot-blade1629 reeda1722 bunt1775 c1200 Vices & Virtues 135 Ne lat hie [Honestas] nawht ðe hande pleiȝende mid stikke, ne mid strawe. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 218 Þe Quene seide ful soð þe wið an stre tende alhire eastres þet Muche kimeð of lutel. c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde ii. 1745 In titering, and pursuite, and delayes, The folk devyne at wagginge of a stree. 1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 1837 Lych hornys of a lytell snayl, Wych..for a lytel strawh wyl shrynke. a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 94 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 302 Clense not thi tethe..With knyfe ne stre, styk ne wande. a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. iii. 107 Those that with haste will make a mightie fire, Begin it with weake Strawes . View more context for this quotation 1668 J. Owen Nature Indwelling-sin xvii. 290 No more impression..than blows with a straw would give to an Adamant. 1743 A. Pope Ess. Man (new ed.) ii. 276 Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw. 1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 817 The communication may be maintained by any slight tube, as a straw, or a reed. 1897 E. Howlett in W. Andrews' Legal Lore 92 In some manors the surrender [of lands] is effected by the delivery of a rod, in others of a straw. in extended use.1587 T. Newton tr. L. Lemnius Herbal for Bible xxvii. 150 Another kinde of Reede..hath a long, round and hollowe stalke or strawe, full of knottie ioints. †b. collective plural = sense 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > cereal, corn, or grain > [noun] > cereal plants or corn > stalk, stem, or part of stem > collectively straw1390 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis I. 143 In stede of mete gras and stres,..He syh. c1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 362 With rysshes or with stren me most hem bynde [L. tunc iunco aut ulmo aut uimine stringimus]. ?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 362 Reasing the devill..With..Palme croces, and knottis of strease. c. poetic. = oat n. 4. rare. (Cf. quot. 1638 at sense 1a.) ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > pipe > [noun] > made of straw reeda1387 fistulaa1398 oat reeda1522 quill1567 reed pipe1567 oat-pipe1586 oat1587 straw1598 whistle-stalka1657 oaten1825 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 888 When Shepheards pipe on Oten Strawes . View more context for this quotation 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 11 Dunce at the best; in Streets but scarce allow'd To tickle, on thy Straw, the stupid Crowd. d. A straw in the shoe is said to have been the sign by which loafers about the courts of law advertised their readiness to perjure themselves for money. Cf. straw-shoe n. at Compounds 3. ΚΠ 1762 Fielding's Jonathan Wild i. ii, in Wks. II. 240 An eminent gentleman,..who was famous for so friendly a disposition, that he was bail for above a hundred persons in one year. He had likewise the remarkable humour of walking in Westminster-hall with a straw in his shoe. e. Botany. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > part of bladec1450 grass root1474 bent1577 chat1601 grasstop1659 knee1678 locusta1707 straw1776 spikelet1793 strap1793 sheath-scale1796 spiket1796 stragule1821 scutellum1832 scobina1839 rachilla1842 chaff-scale1856 coleorhiza1866 hypoblast1882 lemma1906 1776 J. Lee Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) Explan. Terms 378 Culmus, a Straw, properly the Trunk of Grasses. 1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 80 Straws round, and somewhat flattened. 1821 J. E. Smith Gram. Bot. 6 Culmus, a Culm or Straw, the peculiar stem of Grasses, is leafy, cylindrical [etc.]. 1839 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) i. ii. 84 From the caulis, Linnæus, following the older botanists, distinguished the culmus or straw, which is the stem of Grasses. f. Mining. (See quot. 1886.) ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > mining equipment > [noun] > fuses, etc., used in blasting smift1839 snoff1860 straw1860 strum1880 squib1881 1860 Eng. & Foreign Mining Gloss. (new ed.) (S. Staffs. Terms) 80 Straw, a fine straw filled with powder and used as a fuse. 1886 J. Barrowman Gloss. Sc. Mining Terms 65 Straw, or strae, a fuse composed of a straw filled with gunpowder. g. A hollow tube (originally of straw or glass, now usually paper or plastic) through which a drink is sucked. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > drinking-straw straw1851 sucking-tube1875 1851 London at Table iii. 52 Mississippi Punch. Let them use a glass tube or straw to sip the nectar through. 1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) 90 Cobbler,..a drink made of wine, sugar, lemon, and pounded ice, and imbibed through a straw or other tube. 1872 ‘A. Merion’ Odd Echoes Oxf. 21 Come let the mackerel soused be brought,..The cider-cup and straws. 1883 Schele de Vere in Encycl. Amer. I. 201/1 With the various drinks invented by Americans came into use the straws—slender tubes of wheat, or even of glass—through which beverages are sucked up, or, as it is called, imbibed. 1888 J. Ruskin Præterita III. ii. 57 I..saw the Bishop of Oxford taught by Sir Robert Inglis to drink sherry-cobbler through a straw. 1926 ‘O. Douglas’ Proper Place xxxi. 286 She..soon had Alistair supremely happy drinking lemonade through a straw. 1926 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 4 July 6/1 (advt.) Warm Weather Supplies. Ice Cream Pails. Soda Straws. Lily Drinking Cups. 1953 D. Thomas in Listener 17 Sept. 459/2 They gave him a bottle with a straw. 1967 R. A. Waldron Sense & Sense Devel. vi. 116 A drinking-straw is nowadays usually made of plastic. 1982 H. Engel Ransom Game viii. 45 I settled for a vanilla shake... The straw stood up unaided in..the froth. h. Used as a means of deciding something by chance (lit. by choosing the shortest (or longest) from among several straws held so as to conceal one end); phr. to draw a straw or straws, to draw a lot or lots. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > make types of choice [verb (intransitive)] > choose or decide by lot to cast lots (also lot)a1275 to draw lots (also lot)c1425 lot1483 to draw valentines?1553 draw1634 to draw a straw or straws1832 to draw short and long1870 1832 Examiner 614/1 Drawing straws, for guilty or not guilty, were infinitely preferable. 1939 P. G. Wodehouse Uncle Fred in Springtime i. 13 It was the person on whom life had thrust the..task who must be considered to have drawn the short straw. 1959 R. Bradbury Day it rained Forever 47 Sundays we draw straws for who wears the suit the extra night. 6. A small particle of straw or chaff, a ‘mote’. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > a single straw or particle of straw strawc950 fescue1377 mote1550 haulm1552 feasetraw1595 straw-mote1747 Mott1963 c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt., Introd. 17 Lytles strees vel micles beames. c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. vii. 3 Huæt ðonne gesiistu stre vel mot in ego broðres ðines. c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 405/33 Fistucam, strewu, eglan. c1400 Rule St. Benet ii. 5 In þi broþir ehe þu ses a stra, And noht a balke in þin aȝen. c1407 J. Lydgate Reson & Sensuallyte 6084 Awmber..ryght myghty in werkyng..For to drawe to him strawys. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xvi Take good hede that the sherers of all maner of white corne cast nat vp theyr handes hastely for than all the..strawes..flyeth ouer his heed. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. J.-P. Camus Admirable Events 99 Amber will draw unto it any manner of strawes except of the hearb Basill. 1750 tr. C. Leonardus Mirror of Stones 108 Being heated with rubbing, gagates attracts straws and chaff. 7. a. Often used as a type of what is of trifling value or importance, as in not to care a straw (two, three straws), and similar phrases. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth ivy-leafc1000 needle?c1225 sloec1250 peasea1275 strawc1290 bean1297 nutc1300 buttonc1330 leekc1330 trifle1375 cress1377 goose-wing1377 sop1377 niflec1395 vetcha1400 a pin's head (also point)c1450 trump1513 plack1530 toy1530 blue point1532 grey groat1546 cherry-stone1607 jiggalorum1613 candle-enda1625 peppercorn1638 sponge1671 sneeshing1686 snottera1689 catchpenny1705 potato1757 snuff1809 pinhead1828 traneen1837 a hill of beans1863 gubbins1918 the mind > emotion > indifference > [verb (intransitive)] to put in no chaloir1477 not to care1490 to let the world wag (as it will)c1525 not to care a chip1556 to hang loose (to)1591 (to bid, care, give) a fig, or fig's end for1632 not to careor matter a farthing1647 not to care a doit1660 (not) to care twopencea1744 not to give a curse (also damn)1763 not to care a dump1821 not to care beans1833 not to care a darn1840 not to give a darn1840 not to care a straw (two, three straws)1861 not to care (also give) a whoop1867 (to care) not a fouter1871 not to care (or give) a toss1876 not to give (also care) a fuck1879 je m'en fiche1889 not to care a dit(e)1907 je m'en fous1918 not to give a shit1918 to pay no nevermind1946 not to give a sod1949 not to give (also care) a monkey's (fuck)1960 not to give a stuff1974 c1290 St. Michael 151 in S. Eng. Leg. 304 Nis nouþe no man aliue þat hire couþe habbe i-wust so wel, Ne so hire i-fed and hire child þat ne costnede nouȝt a stravȝ. a1300 Havelok 315 He let his oth al ouer-ga, Þerof ne yaf he nouth a stra. c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 718 Socrates..ne counted nat thre strees Of noght that fortune koude doo. c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2655 By his sar set he noght a stra. c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 1670 Swiche vsage is Not worþ a strawe. c1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode (1869) iv. liii. 201 Deth, j drede þee nouht a straw. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. xiv. 22 Thou fers fo, Thy fervent words compt I nocht a stro. 1594 W. Shakespeare Lucrece sig. H1 I force not argument a straw, Since that my case is past the helpe of law. View more context for this quotation 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables xxix. 29 'Tis not a Straw matter whether the Main Cause be Right or Wrong. 1780 Mirror No. 103 An explanation, besides exposing me to their resentment (but that I did not value a straw), would have [etc.]. 1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. iii. 46 Drysdale, who didn't care three straws about knowing St. Cloud. 1887 Spectator 1 Oct. 1304 The British Government..does not care one straw what religion its subjects profess. †b. a straw for —: an expression of contempt. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > contempt or disesteem [phrase] > expressions of contempt a straw forc1374 to blow the buck's hornc1405 to go whistle1453 fig's enda1616 to do the other thing1628 indeed1834 (in a) pig's eye (also ear, arse)1847 drop dead1934 c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde v. 362 A strawe for alle swevenes signifiaunce! c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 622 But straw vnto hir reed! wolde I [etc.]. c1460 Play Sacram. 205 Yea yea master a strawe for talis that manot sale. ?1499 J. Skelton Bowge of Courte (de Worde) sig. Bij^v Naye strawe for tales thou shalte not rule vs. 1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid i. Prol. 33 Stra for thys ignorant blabring imperfyte Beside thi polyte termis redemyte. 1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Aj^v In whiche poinct, a strawe for all these cankerd philosophers, and sages, who saie [etc.]. 1550 J. Heywood Hundred Epigrammes xciv. sig. Cvi^v Back, quoth the wodcock: Straw for thee, quoth the dawe. 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria iv. ii, in Terence in Eng. 75 A straw for such as would haue us two at debate. †c. Used as an exclamation, = rubbish! nonsense! Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > absence of meaning > nonsense, rubbish > nonsense! [interjection] strawc1412 tilly-vallya1529 flam-flirt1590 fiddlestick1600 fiddle-faddle1671 stuff1701 snuff1725 fudge1766 fiddlededeea1784 rats1816 havers1825 humbug1825 gammon1827 rubbish1839 pickles1846 rot1846 skittle1864 slush1869 flapdoodle1878 quatsch1907 phooey1908 tommyrot1931 balls1938 no shit1939 bollocks1940 phonus-bolonus1955 hockey1961 leave it out!1969 c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 1874 Ye straw! let be! c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5191 Straw! be he neuer so harrageous, If he & she shul dwellen in on house, Goode is he suffre. a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Biii^v Tushe a strawe. a1529 J. Skelton Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng in Certayne Bks. (?1545) 535 A strawe, sayde Bele, stande vtter, For we haue egges and butter. a1529 J. Skelton Manerly Margery in Poet. Wks. (1843) I. 28 Tully valy, strawe, let be, I say! d. A trifle; a frivolous ground of quarrel, a trifling difficulty. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial gnatc1000 ball play?c1225 smalla1250 triflec1290 fly1297 child's gamec1380 motec1390 mitec1400 child's playc1405 trufferyc1429 toyc1450 curiosity1474 fly-winga1500 neither mass nor matins1528 boys' play1538 nugament1543 knack?1544 fable1552 nincety-fincety1566 mouse1584 molehill1590 coot1594 scoff1594 nidgery1611 pin matter1611 triviality1611 minuity1612 feathera1616 fillip1621 rattle1622 fiddlesticka1625 apex1625 rush candle1628 punctilio1631 rushlight1635 notchet1637 peppercorn1638 petty John1640 emptiness1646 fool-fangle1647 nonny-no1652 crepundian1655 fly-biting1659 pushpin1660 whinny-whanny1673 whiffle1680 straw1692 two and a plack1692 fiddle1695 trivial1715 barley-strawa1721 nothingism1742 curse1763 nihility1765 minutia1782 bee's knee1797 minutiae1797 niff-naff1808 playwork1824 floccinaucity1829 trivialism1830 chicken feed1834 nonsensical1842 meemaw1862 infinitesimality1867 pinfall1868 fidfad1875 flummadiddle1882 quantité négligeable1885 quotidian1902 pipsqueak1905 hickey1909 piddle1910 cream puff1920 squat1934 administrivia1937 chickenshit1938 cream puff1938 diddly-squat1963 non-issue1965 Tinkertoy1972 society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > cause of quarrel > frivolous straw1692 1692 J. Wilson Vindiciæ Carolinæ i. 17 Here also he quarrels at Straws. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia III. vi. viii. 297 My passions will not, just now, be irritated by straws. 1828 T. Carlyle Burns in Edinb. Rev. Dec. 292 Mighty events turn on a straw. 1858 A. Trollope Dr. Thorne III. iii. 36 When he spoke of the difficulties in his way, she twitted him by being overcome by straws. 8. In certain proverbs, and allusive senses derived from them. (See quots.) See also last straw n. at last adv., adj., and n.⁴ Compounds. ΘΚΠ society > communication > indication > [phrase] > other phrases or sayings there is no smoke without firec1422 straw1835 the style is the man1901 a. 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. i. 12 A drowning man will catch at a straw, the Proverb well says. 1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. xii. 305 Love, like despair, catches at straws. 1853 E. C. Gaskell Ruth III. vi. 195 That hope was the one straw that Mr. Bradshaw clung to. 1908 R. Bagot Anthony Cuthbert xxv. 331 He had been compelled, however, to suppress both his shame and his pride, and grasp at the straw held out to him. b.1846 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) ii. 13 As the last straw breaks the laden camel's back, this piece of underground information crushed the sinking spirits of Mr. Dombey.c.1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 31 Take a straw and throw it up into the Air, you shall see by that which way the Wind is.1799 Porcupine's Gaz. 6 Mar. 3/2 ‘Straws’ (to make use of Callender's old hackneyed proverb) ‘Straws serve to show which way the wind blows.’1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XIV viii. 119 You know, or don't know, that great Bacon saith ‘Fling up a straw, 'twill show the way the wind blows.’1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi I. ii. iii. 224 The Provençal, who well knew how to construe the wind by the direction of straws.1846 Fraser's Mag. XXXIII. 131 This straw shews the peculiar superstitiousness of Johnson's mind.1852 C. A. Bristed Five Years Eng. University (ed. 2) 365 One of the smallest possible straws may be taken as an indication of the direction in which the aura popularis now set.1861 C. Reade Cloister & Hearth lvi And such straws of speech show how blows the wind.1915 Daily News 28 Dec. 4 Occasional tavern brawls between German and Bulgarian officers are no doubt only straws, but the lesson they point is reinforced by [etc.].1927 A. Adams Ranch on Beaver vii. 99 ‘As straws tell which way the wind blows,’ remarked Sargent, ‘this day's work gives us a clean line on these company cattle.’1939 C. H. Madge & T. Harrisson Brit. by Mass-observ. ii. 107 Yet through agents in the constituencies, and straws in the wind like West Leicester, came a slightly better indication of popular sentiment.1960 C. P. Snow Affair xxv. 334 There have been other things, straws in the wind, maybe, which give reason to think that contemporary standards among a new scientific generation are in a process of decline.1975 Lang. for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) xii. 189 These are straws in the wind. What they indicate is the degree to which learning and the acquisition of language are interlocked.1983 Listener 27 Jan. 3/1 As MPs have already pointed out in the debate, Captain Nick Barker of HMS Endurance had detected straws in the wind. 9. In various phrases. †a. to turn every straw, leave no straw unturned: to search everywhere for something lost. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > search exhaustively to turn every straw?c1225 to rake (out) hell1542 leave no straw unturned1575 to leave no stone unturned1670 trawl1980 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 241 Secheð hit anan richt & towent uch strea oðet hit beo ifunden. 1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle i. iv. sig. Aiiii So see in all the heape of dust, thou leaue no straw vnturned. †b. to lay a straw: to stop, desist. there a straw! = here I will stop. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ceasing > cease activity [verb (intransitive)] i-swikec893 swikec897 atwindc1000 linOE studegieOE stintc1175 letc1200 stuttea1225 leavec1225 astint1250 doc1300 finec1300 blina1325 cease1330 stable1377 resta1382 ho1390 to say or cry ho1390 resta1398 astartc1400 discontinuec1425 surcease1428 to let offc1450 resista1475 finish1490 to lay a straw?a1505 to give over1526 succease1551 to put (also pack) up one's pipes1556 end1557 to stay (one's own or another's) hand1560 stick1574 stay1576 to draw bridle1577 to draw rein1577 to set down one's rest1589 overgive1592 absist1614 subsista1639 beholdc1650 unbridle1653 to knock offa1657 acquiesce1659 to set (up) one's rest1663 sista1676 stop1689 to draw rein1725 subside1734 remit1765 to let up1787 to wind (up) one's pirna1835 to cry crack1888 to shut off1896 to pack in1906 to close down1921 to pack up1925 to sign off1929 the world > action or operation > ceasing > here I will stop [phrase] there a straw!?a1505 a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 241 in Poems (1981) 140 Off sik musik to wryte I do bot dote, Thar-for at this mater a stra I lay. c1555 Manifest Detection Diceplay sig. Bii Well, as to that, there lay a strawe tyll anone, that the matter lede vs to speake more of it. 1568 V. Skinner tr. R. González de Montes Discouery Inquisition of Spayne f. 63 There they were enforced to lay a straw. 1580 G. Harvey Three Proper Lett. iii. 49 You may communicate as much..as you list,..with the two Gentlemen: but there a straw, and you loue me: not with any one else, friend or foe. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. ix. xxxvi. 258 If I should lay a straw here, and proceed no further in this discourse of Purples. 1639 Deloney's Gentile Craft: 2nd Pt. (rev. ed.) ii. iii. sig. Civ^v Nay soft, there lay a straw for feare of stumbling quoth Robin. †c. to break a straw [= French rompre la paille] : to quarrel. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > quarrel [verb (intransitive)] threapc1175 disputea1225 thretec1400 varyc1450 fray1465 to fall out1470 to set (or fall) at variancec1522 quarrel1530 square1530 to break a straw1542 to be or to fall at (a) square1545 to fall at jar1552 cowl1556 tuilyie1565 jarl1580 snarl1597 to fall foul1600 to cast out1730 fisticuff1833 spat1848 cagmag1882 rag1889 to part brass-rags1898 hassle1949 blue1955 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 61^v I prophecie..that Plato and Dionysius wil ere many dayes to an ende breake a straw betwene theim. d. to draw (also gather, pick) straws: (of the eyes) to be sleepy. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > be or become drowsy [verb (intransitive)] > of eyes to draw (also gather, pick) straws1672 1672 J. Phillips Maronides v. 131 When the Sun awakes the Daw's, Hobgoblins eyes always draw straws. 1691 A. D'Anvers Academia 36 Their Eyes, by this time all drew Straws. 1694 Gentleman's Jrnl. Apr. 84 It growing then towards eleven a clock, the City Ladies Eyes began to draw Straws. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 214 I'm sure 'tis time for honest Folks to be a-bed..Indeed my Eyes draws Straw. 1796 J. Wolcot Orson & Ellen v. 125 Their eyelids did not once pick straws. 1825 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xix, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 383 But would you believe it, my beloved Shepherd, my eyes are gathering straws. 1892 Illustr. Sporting & Dramatic News 5 Nov. 270/2 ‘That period—probably two o'clock a.m.—when the eyes of chaperons begin to draw straws’. 1942 B. Field Bride of Glory ii. xxiii. 868 ‘My dear, your eyes draw straws; ye should go to bed.’ ‘I think I must, as I can't keep awake though I've been pinching myself this great while.’ e. to have straws in one's hair (and variants): to be insane, eccentric, or distracted. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > be or become mad [verb (intransitive)] dwelec900 wedec900 awedeeOE starea1275 braidc1275 ravea1325 to be out of mindc1325 woodc1374 to lose one's mindc1380 madc1384 forgetc1385 to go out of one's minda1398 to wede (out) of, but wita1400 foolc1400 to go (also fall, run) mada1450 forcene1490 ragec1515 waltc1540 maddle?c1550 to go (also run, set) a-madding (or on madding)1565 pass of wita1616 to have a gad-bee in one's brain1682 madden1704 to go (also be) off at the nail1721 distract1768 craze1818 to get a rat1890 to need (to have) one's head examined (also checked, read)1896 (to have) bats in the belfryc1901 to have straws in one's hair1923 to take the bats1927 to go haywire1929 to go mental1930 to go troppo1941 to come apart1954 the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [verb (intransitive)] > be slightly mad > eccentric or cranky bees in the head or the brains1553 fanaticize1715 to get a rat1890 (to have) bats in the belfryc1901 to have straws in one's hair1923 to take the bats1927 1890 ‘L. Carroll’ Nursery ‘Alice’ x. 39 That's the March Hare, with the long ears, and straws mixed up with his hair. The straws showed he was mad—I don't know why. Never twist up straws among your hair, for fear people should think you're mad!] 1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves vii. 72 When your uncle the Duke begins to feel the strain a bit and you find him in the blue drawing-room sticking straws in his hair, old Glossop is the first person you send for. 1925 P. G. Wodehouse Carry on, Jeeves vi. 142 His [sc. a psychiatrist's] outlook on life has become so jaundiced through constant association with coves who are picking straws out of their hair. 1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon xviii. 346 (heading) Straws in the hair. 1962 ‘S. Woods’ Bloody Instr. ix. 100 Dennis Dowling..brought with him an atmosphere of mingled drama and insanity. Antony thought: ‘definitely straws in the hair’ as soon as he opened the door. 10. Applied to various things shaped like a straw. †a. plural = jack-straws, jackstraw n. 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games played with straws or sticks > [noun] spillikins1734 straw1765 jackstraws1795 long-straws1835 pick-up-sticks1936 1765 H. Walpole Let. to C'tess Suffolk 9 July They (I mean my bones) lie in a heap over one another like the bits of ivory at the game of straws. b. Australian. A walking-stick insect, a phasmid. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > subclass Pterygota > [noun] > division Exopterygota or Hemimetabola > order Phasmida > member of walking leaf1718 wandering1798 straw1827 1827 H. Hellyer in J. Bischoff Van Diemen's Land (1832) 177 I caught one of those curious insects the native straw; it is, I apprehend, a nondescript. c. A long slender needle. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing > equipment for > needle > types of pack-needle1327 packing needle1597 Whitechapel needle1737 quadrille1818 blunt1833 sharps1834 darning-needle1848 between1849 ground-down1862 straw1862 darner1882 wool-needle1882 stocking needle1886 swing needle1954 1862 M. T. Morrall Hist. Needle-making 39 The Straws are suited for millinery and light work, and they are often made double length, for sewing fents in Manchester. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straws..are needles of a particular description, used in hat and bonnet making. d. A slender kind of clay pipe. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > articles or materials used in smoking > [noun] > pipe > clay-pipe > slender straw1882 1882 Worcs. Exhib. Catal. iii. 28 Tobacco pipes. 10-inch Straws. e. cheese straw: a thin stick of pastry, containing cheese. potato straw: see potato straw n. at potato n. Compounds 2. ΚΠ 1877 Cassell's Dict. Cookery 119. 1892 T. F. Garrett & W. A. Rawson Encycl. Pract. Cookery I. 350. f. A plastic phial in which bull semen is stored for artificial insemination. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > apparatus > [noun] > for storing or containing boat1847 collecting box1857 moist chamber1869 Pasteur flask1869 plate1886 Petri dish1892 Pasteur pipette1899 Stender dish1900 straw1966 tissue-bank1968 1966 Canad. Jrnl. Compar. Med. & Vet. Sci. 30 109 The use of plastic straws would..encourage volume storage of high quality semen from young sires. 1966 Canad. Jrnl. Compar. Med. & Vet. Sci. 30 111/1 Better fertility results can be anticipated with straw packaged semen as compared with that packaged in glass ampoules. 1982 Sunday Times 12 Sept. 45/2 The firm..specialises in artificial insemination..in cattle, and expects Pickles [sc. a bull] eventually to produce 40,000 ‘straws’, or phials, of semen a year. These straws will be frozen, and sold to cattle breeders all over the world at about £50 a time. III. Something made of straw. 11. A straw hat. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw straw hat1453 ruskie1825 straw1829 basher1901 straw basher1901 1829 P. Egan Boxiana New Ser. II. 681 Hall..went briskly into the ring, and tossed up his Dunstable straw. 1849 Theatr. Programme No. 5. 45/2 (advt.) Charles Vyse, manufacturer of Leghorns and Straws to the British and Foreign Courts.—30 Ludgate-street. 1863 Baily's Monthly Mag. Jan. 357 I hung my saturated ‘straw’ upon a bush. 1902 R. Hichens Londoners 159 I've only brought a straw. IV. Something resembling straw in colour. 12. In book-names of certain moths, with reference to their colour (see quots.). ΚΠ 1775 M. Harris Eng. Lepidoptera 45 Phalæna..310 Straw, clouded. 1819 G. Samouelle Entomologist's Compend. 427 Botys cespitalis. The Straw-barred. 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 49 The Straw Underwing..appears about June. 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 116 The Straw Belle. 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 188 The Dingy Straw (Depressaria costosa). 1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 193 The Dingy Straw (Recurvaria Silacella). 1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 98 The Straw Belle (Aspilates gilvaria). 1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 295 The Straw Under-wing (Cerigo Cytherea). Compounds C1. attributive, passing into adj., with sense ‘made of straw’. See also straw hat n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [adjective] > made of straw straw1442 strawen1459 strawish1562 strawy1568 sheaved1609 1442 R. Cottingham Will in H. A. Lee-Dillon Fairholt's Costume in Eng. (ed. 3) II. (Gloss.) s.v. A blak stra cappe. 1577 R. Willes & R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Hist. Trauayle W. & E. Indies f. 254^v Theyr houses are..layde all ouer with straw pallettes, wherevppon they doe both sit in steede of stooles, and lye in theyr clothes, with billets vnder theyr heades. 1624 Fairfax Inventory in Archaeologia (1884) 48 148 A strowbasket. 1679 M. Rusden Further Discov. Bees 2 The keeping of Bees in Box-hives, I call by the name of Colonies, to distinguish them from those kept only in Straw-hives. 1699 J. Evelyn Kalendarium Hortense (ed. 9) 134 Cover also your most delicate Stone-fruit and Murals, skreening them with Straw-hurdles. 1707 tr. P. Le Lorrain de Vallemont Curiosities in Husbandry & Gardening 257 Cover the Earth with good Straw-Mats. 1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) xxii. 188 A straw bonnet with a pink ribbon. 1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos vii. 87 Hovering around the straw-pallet of some Lazarus-beggar. C2. Obvious combinations: a. Simple attributive, with the sense ‘of or pertaining to straw or straws’, as in straw-end, straw-fire, straw-market, straw-mow, straw-pad, straw pulp, straw-rick, straw-stack; designating a receptacle for straw, as straw-barn, straw-barton, straw-house, straw-loft, straw rack. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [adjective] > made of straw > of or relating to straw strawy1552 straw1557 stramineous1624 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > [noun] > pulp pulp1727 stuff1745 paper pulp1839 wood-pulp1876 ground wood1885 mechanical wood pulp1887 straw pulp1888 soda pulp1893 sulphate pulp1907 1557 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandrie sig. B.ii But serue them with haye, while thy straw stoouer last: they loue no more strawe, they had rather to fast. a1618 J. Sylvester tr. Battail of Yvry in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) 1099 When his Fury glowes, 'Tis but as Straw-fire. 1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia ii. vii. 196 How like you (John) your lodging and your fare? Willis said, Well, had I a straw-pad here. 1662 A. Cooper Στρατολογια vi. 52 A timerous Footman..In a Straw-mough had hid himself for fear. 1677 G. Miege New Dict. French & Eng. ii. sig. Aaa 4^v/2 A Straw-house, paillier, le lieu où l'on tient la paille. 1721 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (ed. 5) I. 143 What Corn you stack must be bound up in Sheaves, that so the Ears of the Corn may be turned inward, and the Straw-ends out. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 213 Nor did he think it more dangerous than other grass, unless cattle came hungry to it out of the straw-barton. a1722 E. Lisle Observ. Husbandry (1757) 215 They..were foddered in the straw-house. a1747 E. Holdsworth Remarks & Diss. Virgil (1768) 323 A street..formerly called La Rue de Fourrage: where the straw-market was kept. 1812 J. Sinclair Acct. Syst. Husbandry Scotl. i. 15 The straw-barn..should be so large as to pile up the straw of two stacks when threshed. 1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §1142 Straw-racks are placed in the sheds. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. iv. iii. 246 They lie in straw-lofts, in woody brakes. 1886 W. J. Tucker Life E. Europe 187 Strawstacks, and haystacks, and maizestacks. 1888 C. F. Cross & E. J. Bevan Text-bk. Paper-making vi. 101 The presse-päte system is largely adopted for straw pulp. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles II. xxxii. 144 To inquire how the advanced cows were getting on in the straw-barton. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles III. xlvii. 130 The old men on the rising straw-rick. 1937 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper 238/2 Straw pulp is prepared by cooking straw with soda. b. objective, as straw-carrier, straw-clutching, straw-cutter, straw-cutting, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > [noun] > unfounded hope forlorn hopea1643 wish-thinking1930 wishful thinking1932 a wing and a prayer1943 straw-clutching1962 hope-against-hope1968 1656 J. Collop Poesis Rediviva 64 Th' straw-gatherers of Egypt. 1790 W. Marshall Agric. Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Midland Counties II. 443 Straw-cutter, a cutter of straw, &c. into chaf. 1805 Trans. Soc. Arts 23 51 He purchased a straw-chopper, that the horses corn might be mixed with straw. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. v. ix. 292 After all that straw-burning, fire-pumping, and deluge of musketry. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 196 Straw-cutters are of very various construction. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 196 Straw-cutting machines. 1869 Spons' Dict. Engin. I. 229 The straw-shaker [in a threshing-machine] should pass the straw at the rate of 75 to 80 ft. a-minute. 1884 J. Scott Barn Implements (1885) 145 The ‘Straw-Elevator,’ driven in connection with the threshing-machine. 1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 23 The straw carrier of the thrashing machine. 1962 L. Davidson Rose of Tibet iii. 65 Every bit of straw-clutching, every bit of hope..was followed instantly by a reaction of dismay. c. instrumental and parasynthetic, as straw-bottomed, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, straw-thatched adjs. ΚΠ 1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. i. f. 96/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I In some places it [sc. malt] is dryed with woode alone, or strawe alone..but of all the strawe dryed is the most excellent. 1598 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 3 Last Bks. iv. ii. 14 So rides he mounted on the market-day Vpon a straw-stu'ft pannell, all the way. 1613 A. Standish New Direct. 21 Cottages and such like Straw-thatched houses. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 773 Thir [sc. the bees'] Straw-built Cittadel. View more context for this quotation 1738 P. Whitehead Manners 4 'Midst the mad Mansions of Moor-fields, I'd be A straw-crown'd Monarch, in mock majesty. 1746 J. Warton Ode to Fancy 30 Where never human art appear'd, Nor ev'n one straw-rooft cott was rear'd. 1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas II. iv. xi. 114 We quitted the hermitage, leaving,..two old straw-bottomed chairs. 1751 T. Gray Elegy v. 6 The swallow twitt'ring from the straw-built shed. 1820 J. Keats Cap & Bells xxix Many as bees about a straw-capp'd hive. 1824 T. Campbell Theodric 501 Till reaching home, terrific omen! there The straw-laid street preluded his dispair. 1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xli. 445 Had he been inspecting a wooden statue, or a straw-embowelled Guy Faux. 1899 W. D. Howells Ragged Lady 286 The tubes of straw-barreled Virginia cigars. C3. Special combinations. Also straw yard n. straw bail n. (see quots.). ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > bailing or bail > [noun] > worthless bail Jew bail1771 straw bail1853 1853 Notes & Queries 1st Ser. 7 86/1 Straw bail is, I believe, a term still used by attorneys to distinguish insufficient bail from ‘justifiable’ or sufficient bail. 1859 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 2) 455 Straw bail, worthless bail; bail given by ‘men of straw’, i.e. persons who pretend to the possession of property, but have none. † straw-bait n. Obsolete = straw-worm n. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > division Endopterygota or Metabola (winged) > [noun] > order Trichoptera > family Phryganeidae or genus Phryganea > member of (caddis-fly) > larva of codwormc1450 casewormc1565 codbait1620 caddis-worm1627 straw-bait1632 caddis1653 cockspur1653 piper1653 ruffcoat1653 straw-worm1653 cadew1668 cad1674 caddis-bait1833 1632 G. Sandys in tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xv. Notes 520 So Cod-bates, and Straw-bates which ly vnder water [turn] into May-flies. straw ballot n. = straw vote n. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote straw vote1866 straw ballot1932 straw poll1932 1932Straw ballot [see straw poll n.]. 1967 Canad. Ann. Rev. 1966 63 RIN..polled 27·7 per cent of the vote in a Université de Montréal straw ballot. straw basher n. slang a straw hat or boater. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw straw hat1453 ruskie1825 straw1829 basher1901 straw basher1901 1901 Westm. Gaz. 9 Aug. 8/1 They parade in the grounds of the Exhibition with well-cut clothes and straw ‘bashers’. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle ii. xii. 421 A stiff, board-like straw-basher. straw-bed n. (a) a bed or mattress filled with straw, a paillasse; (b) = straw ride n. (a). ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > mattress > filled with straw pallet1370 palliasse1506 pad1554 pouffe1583 straw-bed1585 pallet bed1620 pallet-couch1815 straw tick1931 society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > riding school > track in > laid with straw straw-bed1856 straw ride1856 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 247/1 Culcita stramentitia,..a straw bed, or pad of straw. 1669 A. Woodhead tr. Life St. Teresa (1671) ii. 263 The Straw-bed, the ordinary Bed of the Discalced. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. ix. 352/1 Some [colts] being at once physicked, and exercised afterwards upon straw-beds, &c. straw bid n. U.S. (see quot. 1889). ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > buying > [noun] > bidding or offering to buy > the bid or offer > worthless bid straw bid1889 1889 J. S. Farmer Americanisms Straw bid, a worthless bid; one not intended to be taken up. Categories » straw bidder n. U.S. straw-blond adj. (also straw-blonde) applied to hair of a pale, yellowish blond colour; also absol., this colour. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > colour of hair > [adjective] > light hair > having white-headed1571 whitehead1577 fair-haired1598 silver-haired1678 light-haired?1746 blonde-locked1837 tow-headed1850 tow-haired1887 peroxide1899 blondie1905 straw-blond1928 platinum blonde1932 1928 E. O'Neill Strange Interlude i. 25 Her straw-blond hair, framing her sunburned face, is bobbed. 1973 A. Hunter Gently French v. 47 Her hair was a warm straw blonde. straw-board n. coarse yellow millboard made from straw pulp, used for making boxes, book-covers, etc.; also, a piece of this material. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > materials made from paper or pulp > [noun] > millboard > types of straw-board1850 pulp board1899 corrugated strawboard1912 1850 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1849: Arts & Manuf. 305 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (31st Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 20, Pt. 1) VI [The] said process is peculiar to the use of strawboard. 1862 Harper's Mag. June 135/1 He was making a personal examination of straw-board shoes provided for those who have gone to be soldiers. 1875 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Straw-board. 1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 409 In the said slots were placed sheets of straw-board of uniform texture and thickness. 1885 G. F. Green in Rattray & Mill Forestry & Forest Products xviii. 474 Wood-pulp boards, straw-boards, and mill-boards are sometimes referred to as ‘paste-boards’. 1956 H. Williamson Methods Bk. Design xix. 321 Millboards are harder and more solid than strawboards. straw boater n. = boater n. 2. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > made of specific material > straw > types of Dunstable1805 Leghorn1810 skimmer1830 Tuscan hat1830 boating hat1840 mushroom1843 Milan hat1855 toering1855 bergère hat1873 Zulu hat1880 boater1882 boat hat1889 straw yard1900 donkey's breakfast1901 brimmer1902 straw boater1905 balibuntal1913 1905 Daily Chron. 2 June 4/7 In a shop on Ludgate-hill, there are placards announcing ‘straw boaters’. 1965 G. Jones Island of Apples i. v. 47 Because after breakfast, to show big, he went out for a ride on the bike, wearing his new straw boater with the red silk ribbon. straw bond n. U.S. (see quot. 1889 and cf. straw bail n.). ΘΚΠ society > law > legal obligation > bond or recognizance > [noun] > worthless scrap of paper1840 straw bond1889 1889 Cent. Dict. at Bond Straw bond, a bond upon which either fictitious names or the names of persons unable to pay the sum guaranteed are written as names of sureties. straw boots n. dialect wisps of straw tied round the feet and legs; hence as a nickname for the 7th Dragoon Guards. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and feet > [noun] > other straw boots1707 bootikin1885 1707 tr. M.-C. d'Aulnoy Diverting Wks. 493 Admiral Sharp-Cap dispatcht away John Prattle-Box, Courier in Ordinary of the Closet, with his Straw-Boot [Fr. botté de paille], to inform the King. 1832 D. Vedder Orcadian Sketches in Poems (1878) 298 His legs were completely enveloped in twisted straw, generally known by the name of ‘strae boots’. 1879 All the Year Round 5 Apr. 370/1 The Seventh [Dragoon Guards] has been known indifferently as the Black Horse,..and as the Virgin Mary's Guard; but its more popular pseudonym is the Straw Boots. straw boss n. originally U.S. a subordinate or assistant foreman. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman > assistant or subordinate straw boss1894 pannikin boss1898 pannikinc1926 1894 W. H. Carwardine Pullman Strike ix. 117 These employees..had been so ground between the upper millstone of ‘low wages’ and the nether millstone of ‘high rents’, the continued oppression of the ‘straw bosses’, [etc.]. 1915 S. Lewis Trail of Hawk ii. xiii. 132 He had laughed away the straw boss who tried to make him go ask for a left-handed monkey-wrench. 1945 ‘N. Shute’ Most Secret viii. 172 Them Frenchies won't work right without they have a straw-boss. 1976 L. St. Clair Fortune in Death x. 98 Dimestores, cafeterias, moving to a new job..every time some greasy straw boss ran his hand up my skirt. strawboy n. Irish English (see quots.). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > social event > festive occasion > persons and characters > [noun] > participants in other specific festivities savage mana1577 Saturnaliana1665 souler1778 wren-boys?a1800 Jack in the green1835 carnivaller1881 orgiophant1886 strawboy1894 carnivalite1896 garlander1939 1894 C. R. Browne in Proc. Royal Irish Acad. 1893–6 (1896) 3 352 Mr. Michael Lavelle..informs me that he has heard that sometimes, on the occasion of a wedding, ‘straw-boys’ go round with long straw masks on, and if they do not get either money or liquor will threaten to break the windows and furniture of the house. 1937 C. M. Arensberg Irish Countryman iii. 106 The ‘strawboys’—privileged masqueraded figures whose mock-dangerous invasion of the wedding feast has been dignified to represent a last remnant of a primeval bride-capture. 1968 A. Gailey in Folk Life VI. 90 In parts of Fermanagh there survive even to the present day traces of an old ceremony performed by groups of..young men, disguised latterly in..straw masks.., but in former times..wearing complete suits of straw. They interrupted the festivities following the solemnisation of marriages in the country districts, and were known simply as the Strawboys. straw braid n. = straw plait n. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw straw plait1800 straw braid1864 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from other vegetable fibres > [noun] > woven straw straw braid1864 Milan1895 balibuntal1913 Bangkok1920 paribuntal1926 1864 Harper's Mag. Oct. 578/2 He laid all kinds of evil results at the door of straw braid. 1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2417/1 The Leghorn, or Italian straw-braid. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 463/2 Straw Braids are made in very long lengths, and are sewn together by means of long thin Needles, called Straws. straw-bug n. slang a strawberry. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > berry > [noun] > strawberry strawberryc1000 straw-bug1908 the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > edible berries > strawberry strawberryc1000 straw-bug1908 1908 A. Huxley Let. 29 June (1969) 28 Latest News Stop Press Strawbugs for tea. 1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 155 These syllables [sc. -bug, -gog, etc.] are used..to replace the second half of a word, as: newbug, rasbug, strawbug, goosegog, and wellygogs. † straw-burn v. Obsolete (transitive) to fertilize (land) by burning straw upon it. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > fertilize or manure [verb (transitive)] > treat with other natural fertilizer marlc1265 chavec1420 chalk?1578 lime1649 soot1707 sand1721 straw-burn1799 sprat1832 loam?1842 guanize1843 guano1847 bone1873 herring1879 1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 267 He straw-burnt a piece in the middle of a field preparing for turnips. † straw-burning n. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > fertilizing or manuring > [noun] > use of other natural fertilizers marlingc1450 liming1620 chalking1626 sanding1670 shelling1780 straw-burning1799 ashing1842 vermiculture1976 1799 A. Young Gen. View Agric. County Lincoln 268 This straw-burning husbandry I found again at Belesby. straw cat n. the pampas cat ( Cent. Dict. 1891). ΚΠ 1891 Cent. Dict. VII. Straw cat. straw-ciré n. (see ciré adj.). ΚΠ 1928 Daily Express 15 June 5/5 Trimmings of coloured felt flowers on shapes of straw-ciré. † straw coat n. Obsolete a coat trimmed with straw. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > coat > types of > other russet coatc1425 syon1511 party coat1559 patch-coat?1608 undercoat1648 turncoat1726 wambais1761 straw coat1783 coatlet1795 Wellington coat1809 redingote1823 shad-belly1842 cutaway1849 reliever1850 blouse1861 shooter1870 square-cut1893 stroller1901 Redfern1909 sherwani1911 teddy bear1925 swagger coat1933 swing-coat1935 Crombie1951 tent coat1961 1783 European Mag. & London Rev. Mar. 190/1 Paillasses, or straw-coats, are very much in use. straw cotton n. (see quot. 1882). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > thread or yarn > [noun] > for other specific purpose packthread1304 pack-line1447 thrum1466 pack-twine1645 whip1825 basket-twine1833 stocking-yarn1835 draw thread1839 mending1882 straw cotton1882 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straw Cotton..is a wiry kind of thread, starched and stiff,..exclusively made for use in the manufacture of straw goods. strae-dead adj. [compare Old Norse strádauða] Scottish quite dead. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > dead person or the dead > [adjective] deadOE lifelessOE of lifeOE storvena1225 dead as a door-nail1362 ydead1387 stark deadc1390 colda1400 bypast1425 perishedc1440 morta1450 obita1450 unquickc1449 gone?a1475 dead and gone1482 extinct1483 departed1503 bygonea1522 amort1546 soulless1553 breathless1562 parted1562 mortified1592 low-laid1598 disanimate1601 carcasseda1603 defunct1603 no morea1616 with God1617 death-stricken1618 death-strucken1622 expired1631 past itc1635 incinerated1657 stock-dead1662 dead as a herring1664 death-struck1688 as dead as a nit1789 (as) dead as mutton1792 low1808 laid in the locker1815 strae-dead1820 disanimated1833 ghosted1834 under the daisies1842 irresuscitable1843 under the sod1847 toes up1851 dead and buried1863 devitalized1866 translated1869 dead and done (for, with)1886 daid1890 bung1893 (as) dead as the (or a) dodo1904 six feet under1942 brown bread1969 1820 R. Mudie Glenfergus II. xviii. 218 Gin ye dinna haste ye, doakter,..it may be strae dead afore ye come on till 't. straw-death n. (Sc. strae-death) [compare Norwegian straadaude, Danish straadød] a natural death in one's bed. ΘΚΠ the world > life > death > manner of death > [noun] > natural death (to die) a natural deatha1522 straw-death1787 natural causes1834 1787 R. Burns Death & Dr. Hornbook xxv, in Poems (new ed.) 63 Whare I kill'd ane, a fair strae-death, By loss o' blood, or want o' breath. 1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. iv. 145 Dead is he, a bed-death,..A straw-death, a cow's-death. 1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer I. xxiii. 305 She's gane, an' no by a fair strae-deith (death on one's own straw) either. † straw deer n. Obsolete an alleged name for the hare. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) > [noun] > family Leporidae > genus Lepus (hares) > lepus europaeus (hare) harea700 wimountc1280 wood-catc1280 babbart?a1300 ballart?a1300 bigge?a1300 goibert?a1300 grasshopper?a1300 lightfoot?a1300 long-ear?a1300 make-fare?a1300 pintail?a1300 pollart?a1300 purblind?a1300 roulekere?a1300 scot?a1300 scotewine?a1300 side-looker?a1300 sitter?a1300 westlooker?a1300 wort-cropper?a1300 break-forwardc1300 broom-catc1300 swikebertc1300 cawel-herta1325 deuberta1325 deudinga1325 fern-sittera1325 fitelfoota1325 foldsittera1325 furze cata1325 scutardea1325 skikarta1325 stobherta1325 straw deera1325 turpina1325 skulker1387 chavarta1400 soillarta1400 waldeneiea1400 scutc1440 coward1486 wata1500 bawtiec1536 puss1575 watkin1585 malkin1706 pussy1715 bawd1785 lion1825 dew-hopper- a1325 Names of Hare in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 133 The strauder, the lekere. † straw-device n. Obsolete a worthless or harmless device. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [noun] > inefficacy > that which is straw-device1601 herb John1614 cardinal's blessing1702 ineffectuality1838 scrap of paper1840 1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iii. iii. sig. F^v As if I knew not how to entertaine These Straw-deuises. straw-drain n. a drain filled with straw (Webster 1828–32). straw-driver n. ? one who practises horses on a straw-ride. ΘΚΠ society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > rider > [noun] > one who practises on straw-ride straw-driver1828 1828 Sporting Mag. 22 183 Mr. Darvill..commenced life as a straw-driver in a country racing stable. straw-dry adj. as dry as straw, very dry. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > dryness > [adjective] > very bone?a1300 for-drya1386 bone-dryc1480 siticulous1620 chippy1850 powder-dry1934 straw-dry1951 1951 W. de la Mare Winged Chariot 47 Unlike the plant called ‘everlasting’, this [sc. poetry] Never straw-dry, sapless, or sterile is. 1963 Glamour Nov. 23 Even hair that's straw-dry turns silky. straw-dynamite n. (see quot. 1889). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > explosive material > [noun] > other specific explosives powdera1393 gunpowder1411 saltpetre1501 petre1586 halinitre1608 sal-prunella1664 petre-salt1708 xyloidin1838 gun-cotton1846 pyroxyle1847 pyroxylin1847 pyroglycerin1850 xylidine1850 nitroglycerine1852 gun-sawdust1853 picrate1854 trinitroglycerin1864 nitroleum1866 trinitrin1866 dynamite1867 giant-powder1872 dualin1874 fulgurite1874 rendrock1874 glyoxilin1875 lithofracteur1875 trinitro-cellulose1875 white gunpowder1875 gelatin1878 cotton-powder1879 vigorite1879 blasting gelatine1881 Hercules powder1881 saxifragine1881 tonite1881 dynamogen1882 forcite1883 haloxylin1883 jelly powdera1884 nitro-gelatinea1884 panclastite1883 potentite1883 sebastinea1884 kolloxylin1884 hellhoffite1885 rackarock1885 securite1886 kinetite1887 roburite1887 carbo-dynamite1888 fortis1889 gelatine dynamite1889 gelignite1889 seranine1889 straw-dynamite1889 carbonite1890 amberite1891 nitro powder1892 Schnebelite1893 westfalite1894 thorite1899 soup1902 ammonal1903 cheddite1908 trinitrotoluene1908 Samsonite1909 tolite1909 trinitrotoluol1910 trotyl1910 glyceryl trinitrate1912 T.N.T.1915 nitro1916 amatol1918 cyclonite1923 hexogen1923 lox1923 pentaerythritol tetranitrate1923 hexite1931 aurantia1940 jelly1941 RDX1941 1889 J. Cundill Dict. Explosives 61 Straw Dynamite is a mixture of nitro-glycerine with nitro-cellulose made from straw. straw embroidery n. (see quot. 1882). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > sewn or ornamented textile fabric > [noun] > embroidery or ornamental sewing > other types of embroidery cutwork1470 Alexandrinec1500 loose work1548 Irish stitch1560 opus anglicumc1840 opus anglicanum1848 chikan1858 straw embroidery1862 Greek embroidery1882 Hardanger1904 Assisi1923 hedebo1932 the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > embroidery or ornamental sewing > other types of embroidery straw embroidery1862 phulkari1872 bullion embroidery1882 Paris embroidery1882 pattern darning1906 needle-weaving1932 Bargello1942 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4432 Straw embroidery. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 464 Straw Embroidery..consists in tacking upon black Brussels silk net or yellow coloured net, leaves, flowers, corn, butterflies, &c. that are stamped out of straw, and connecting these with thick lines made of yellow filoselle. straw-fiddle n. a xylophone in which the wooden bars are supported on rolls of twisted straw. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > percussion instrument > [noun] > xylophone > other xylophone types ballarda1382 ballards1623 sticcado1776 balafon1797 straw-fiddle1867 mbila1928 gamelan1934 mbira1948 mbira1948 1867 J. Tyndall Sound iv. 137 Instead of using the cord, the bars may rest at their nodes on cylinders of twisted straw; hence the name straw-fiddle sometimes applied to this instrument. straw-foot n. see hay-foot n. straw-fork n. a pitchfork. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > [noun] > fork > pitch-fork pikeforkc1275 shakefork1338 pickfork1349 pitchfork1364 pikea1398 bicornec1420 hay-fork1552 shed-fork1559 straw-fork1573 pikel1602 sheppeck1602 corn-pike1611 wain-forka1642 pick1777 pickle1847 peak1892 1573 T. Tusser Fiue Hundreth Points Good Husbandry (new ed.) f. 14^v Flayle, strawfork [1577 strawforke] & rake. 1858 J. Slight & R. S. Burn Bk. Farm Implements 479 The straw-fork..has rather longer prongs. straw-gold n. the colour of straw; = sense 1d above. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow gullnessa1300 butter colour1629 wheat-colour1711 straw colour1737 jonquil1791 straw-yellow1794 straw1799 wax-yellow1805 sulphur-yellow1816 wax-colour1854 daffodil1855 sulphur-colour1866 sherry colour1871 tea rose1872 mastic1890 wheat1915 sulphur1924 straw-gold1963 buttermilk1977 1963 A. Lubbock Austral. Roundabout 3 Here are fine expenses of pasture, turning to straw-gold in summer. 1977 J. Aiken Last Movement i. 20 Her hair had been..a pale Scottish straw-gold. straw-knife n. a knife used for cutting and splitting straw. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > cutting tool > knife > [noun] > other knives bollock knifec1400 paring knife1415 spudc1440 pricking-knifec1500 shaving-knife1530–1 by-knifec1570 heading knife1574 stock knife1582 drawing knife1583 bung-knife1592 weeding knife1598 drawing knife1610 heading knife1615 draw knife1679 dressing knife1683 redishing knife1688 mocotaugan1716 skinning knife1767 paper knife1789 draw shave1824 leaf-cutter1828 piece-knife1833 nut-pick1851 relic knife1854 butch1859 straw-knife1862 sportsman's companion1863 ulu1864 skinner1872 hacker1875 over-shave1875 stripping-knife1875 Stanley knife1878 flat-back1888 gauge-knife1888 tine-knife1888 plough1899 band-knife1926 X-Acto1943 shank1953 box cutter1955 ratchet knife1966 ratchet1975 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 6527 Chaff machine knives, and straw knives. straw-laths n. plural the laths on which straw is fastened in thatching. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > lath lathc1000 stooth1295 stone-lath1370 straw-laths1391 studc1525 pantile lath1690 reeper1734 tile-laths1844 1391 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 107 Et in cc stralates [printed stralanes] emp. pro domo in tenura Joh. Knygth, 16d. 1433–4 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 54 In m.ccc strelattes emptis pro grangia decimali ibidem reparanda, 6s. 6d. 1485 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1885) III. 231, vij. bonches of stree lattes. straw-like adj. resembling straw; figurative light or worthless as straw. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless > as specific thing strawy1583 chaffy1594 ficulnean1716 straw-like1742 1742 E. Young Complaint: Night the Second 9 He loudly pleads The straw-like Trifles, on Life's common Stream. 1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. VI. Pl. 45 The shafts of the feathers are produced into long lanceolate straw-like and straw-coloured processes. strawline n. a light rope used to pull a heavier one into position, esp. in Logging. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > lumbering > [noun] > lumbering equipment > light line controlling heavy cable trip-line1905 strawline1956 1956 Amer. Speech 31 152 Strawline,..a small~size wire rope which hauls the heavy logging cables into position. 1975 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 22 June 7/4 A strawline was taken across the river by boat, then each cable was pulled to the other side by the horses. straw-man n. (a) a figure of a man made of straw; (b) a ‘man of straw’ (Webster 1911). ΚΠ 1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 567 A scarre-crowe to make them afraide, as wee vse to deale with little children and with birdes by puppets and strawe-men. 1890 J. G. Frazer Golden Bough II. 247 Sometimes a straw man was burned in the ‘hut’. 1896 L. T. Hobhouse Theory of Knowl. 59 The straw man was easily enough knocked over by the critic who set him up. 1934 A. Woollcott While Rome Burns 76 I have often challenged one of these straw-man authorities. 1946 A. Koestler Thieves in Night 328 The authorities..only got the Rumanian captain and his crew, who couldn't give away much as all their dealings had been with straw men under assumed names. 1981 ‘M. Hebden’ Pel is Puzzled xviii. 180 He seemed active enough, but there seemed an awful lot lacking in him... Was he really just a straw man? straw-mote n. dialect a single stalk of straw. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > a single straw or particle of straw strawc950 fescue1377 mote1550 haulm1552 feasetraw1595 straw-mote1747 Mott1963 1747 W. Gould Acct. Eng. Ants 69 The Hill Ants collect a vast Quantity of Pieces of dry Sticks, Chips, Straw-Motes, and other Rubbish. 1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd II. xxii. 275 Then Gabe brought her some of the new cider, and she must needs go drinking it through a strawmote. straw-necked adj. having straw-like feathers on the neck; designating an Australian ibis (see quot. 1848). ΚΠ 1848 J. Gould Birds Austral. VI. Pl. 45 Geronticus [or Carphibis] spinicollis. Straw-necked Ibis. Categories » straw-needle n. a long thin needle used for sewing together straw braids ( Cent. Dict.); cf. 10c. straw-pale adj. rare as pale as straw. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > pale yellow gull13.. flaxen?1523 palew1547 straw-coloured1585 branlie1589 straw colour1589 flaxy1634 festucine1646 sulphureous1656 flaxenish1661 butter colour1665 strawy1668 straw-yellow1794 bombycinous1796 sulphur-coloured1811 sherry-yellow1813 sulphur-yellow1816 bombasic1825 straw1842 wax-coloured1842 stramineous1845 maize-coloured1852 daffodil1855 daw1856 flax1873 sherry-coloured1875 mastic1890 sulpho-chromic1895 ochroid1897 wheat-coloured1898 sulphurous1899 sulphury1900 tea rose1900 straw-pale1922 1922 W. B. Yeats Seven Poems 13 Under the shadow of stupid straw-pale locks. straw paper n. paper made from straw bleached and pulped. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > material for making paper > paper > [noun] > paper made from other materials rice paper1808 straw paper1854 1854 Househ. Words IX. 86/2 A secret mode of making straw-paper. 1862 C. M. Yonge Countess Kate i. 5 Forgetting everything in the interest of her drawing on a large sheet of straw paper. straw plait n. (also straw plat) a plait or braid made of straw, used for making straw hats, etc. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > plants, grasses, or reeds > [noun] > straw > plait or braid made of straw straw plait1800 straw braid1864 1800 Repertory of Arts (1801) XV. 19 A new and improved Manufacture of Straw-Plat, made of split Straw. 1842 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland II. 164 The manufacture of straw-plait is to be found in every house. straw-plaiter n. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > manufacture of textile fabric > [noun] > manufacture of fabric from specific materials > manufacture of articles made from twigs, etc. > one who plaits straw straw-plaiter1846 1846 C. G. F. Gore Sketches Eng. Char. (1852) 68 The hereditary race of straw-plaiters. straw-plaiting n. and gerund; also concrete an article made of straw plait. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > basket-making > [noun] > specific processes pairing1611 straw-plaiting1834 flat-skein work1912 waling1912 1834 J. R. McCulloch Dict. Commerce (1844) at Hats The wives and daughters of the farmers used to plait straw for making their own bonnets, before straw-plaiting became established as a manufacture. 1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons I. ii. ii. 65 He would stand an hour at a cottage door, admiring the little girls who were straw-platting. 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4849 Straw plaitings, straw hats and bonnets. straw poll n. originally U.S. = straw vote n. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote straw vote1866 straw ballot1932 straw poll1932 1932 C. E. Robinson Straw Votes iv. 52 The newspaper or magazine conducting a straw poll by the ballot-in-the-paper method prints a straw ballot in the publication for a certain period of time before an election. 1944 Chicago Tribune 26 Oct. 12/2 (heading) New deal area lifts F.D.R. in N.Y. straw poll. 1958 Spectator 6 June 722/1 In my own straw poll I found two electors who were going to vote Liberal for the first time. 1978 Nature 6 Apr. 484/3 A straw poll taken three weeks ago at a meeting of faculty professors..voted 23 to 3 against approving the proposal. straw potatoes n. very thinly cut potato chips. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > prepared vegetables and dishes > [noun] > prepared potatoes > fried potatoes > chips chip1854 potato chip1854 French fried potatoes1856 chip potatoes1869 pommes frites1879 French fries1902 straw potatoes1904 game chip1914 French frieds1918 pommes allumettes1962 1904 C. H. Senn New Cent. Cookery Bk. (rev. ed.) 596 Pommes Pailles (Straw Potatoes). 1959 Times 6 Apr. 13/5 Serve with sweet corn and straw potatoes. straw ride n. (a) a track laid with straw on which horses are exercised in winter; (b) U.S. ‘a pleasure-ride in the country, taken in a long wagon or sleigh filled with straw, upon which the party sit’ ( Cent. Dict.). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > outing or excursion > [noun] > type of summering1606 campaign1748 shoemaker's holiday1768 water-party1771 marooning1773 maroon1779 junket1814 pleasure cruise1837 straw ride1856 camp1865 pleasure cruising1880 hanami1891 mystery tour1926 mystery trip1931 awayday1972 gimmick1998 society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > riding school > track in > laid with straw straw-bed1856 straw ride1856 society > travel > transport > transport or conveyance in a vehicle > riding in a vehicle > [noun] > a ride in a vehicle > ride in a wheeled vehicle > ride in types of horse-drawn vehicle buggy ride1849 straw ride1856 hayride1896 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports ii. i. x. 357/1 The straw-ride is generally made by using the long litter of the stable laid down round a large paddock. 1881 P. B. Du Chaillu Land Midnight Sun II. 434 A custom which reminded me of the ‘straw ride’ parties common in the rural districts of the United States. 1895 Outing 26 408/1 Invitations to sailing parties, straw rides or picnics. straw ring n. a ring of plaited straw used to support a round-bottomed vessel in an upright position. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > a stand or support to raise from the ground > circular straw ring1651 ring-standc1865 1651 J. French Art Distillation i. 41 The lower gourd or recipient set upon straw-rings. straw rope n. a rope made of twisted straw, used e.g. to secure thatching; also attributive. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > [noun] > thatching equipment > rope for fastening down thatch simmon1616 straw rope1763 thack-rape1876 1763 ‘T. Insulanus’ Treat. Second Sight 9 As he was going out of his house on a morning, he put on straw-rope garters instead of those he formerly used. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. III. vii. iii. 413 See Pichegru's soldiers, this hard winter,..in their ‘straw-rope shoes and cloaks of bass-mat’. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 11 Assorted straw..is put..thick above the turnips for thatch, and kept down by means of straw-ropes. † straw-shoe n. Obsolete a name given to a hanger-on of the law-courts (to be known from his having a straw sticking out of his shoe) who was prepared to swear to anything wanted. ΘΚΠ society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > perjury > perjurer manswareOE false swearerc1380 mansworna1400 forswearer1413 perjurera1500 perjured1526 perjurea1540 post-knight1576 knight of the post1580 perjurator1689 mounter1781 stag1823 straw-shoe1826 subornee1890 perjuress1898 1826 Q. Rev. 33 344 We have all heard of a race of men, who used in former days to ply about our own courts of law, and who, from their manner of making known their occupation, were recognized by the name of Straw-shoes. An advocate or lawyer, who wanted a convenient witness, knew by these signs where to meet with one,..‘Then come into court and swear it?’ And Straw-shoe went into the court and swore it. straw-splitter n. one who makes over-nice distinctions, a quibbler. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun] > practitioner of ergonist1593 ergo1597 subtilist1610 subtilizer1611 ob-and-soller1678 ergoteerer1687 splitter1699 ergotist1739 subtlist1829 straw-splitter1844 hair-splitter1851 pilpulist1859 ergoteur1881 1844 W. H. Smyth Cycle Celestial Objects I. 384 (note) A certain straight-laced straw-splitter objects to the terms rising and setting, as being highly improper when applied to fixed points. straw-splitting n. and adj. (see split v. 5b and cf. hair-splitter n., straw-splitting n. and adj.). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [adjective] oversubtle1490 curious1585 metaphysical1646 metaphysic1663 subtle1668 subtilizing1683 hair-splitting1820 straw-splitting1828 pilpulistic1878 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > [noun] > action of subtlinga1398 subtilizing1596 subtilization1755 hair-splitting1826 straw-splitting1828 1828 E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. Rationalist Char. I. i. 16 The endless straw-splittings of the schoolmen. 1828 E. B. Pusey Hist. Enq. Rationalist Char. I. i. 35 Abounding..in straw-splitting distinctions. 1881 J. Morley Life R. Cobden II. xxxi. 323 They were wasting time in mere strawsplitting. straw-stem n. a wine-glass stem pulled out of the substance of the bowl; hence, a wine glass having such a stem ( Cent. Dict.). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass glassc888 verrea1382 Venice glass1527 rummer1625 bottle glass1626 Malaga glassa1627 flute1649 flute-glass1668 long glass1680 mum-glass1684 toasting glass1703 wine glass1709 tulip-glass1755 tun-glass1755 water glass1779 tumbler-glass1795 Madeira glass1801 tumbling glass1803 noggin glass1805 champagne glass1815 table glass1815 balloon glass1819 copita1841 firing glass1842 nobbler1842 thimble glass1843 wine1848 liqueur-glass1850 straw-stem1853 pokal1854 goblet1856 mousseline1862 pony glass1862 long-sleever1872 cocktail glass1873 champagne flute1882 yard-glass1882 sleever1896 tea-glass1898 liqueur1907 dock-glass1911 toast-master glass1916 Waterford1916 stem-glass1922 Pilsner glass1923 Amen glass1924 ballon1930 balloon goblet1931 thistle glass1935 snifter1937 balloon1951 shot-glass1955 handle1956 tulip1961 schooner1967 champagne fountain1973 the world > food and drink > drink > containers for drink > drinking vessel > [noun] > glass > stem shank1553 shafta1837 stem1836 baluster stem1844 straw-stem1853 stalka1864 Silesian stem1929 1853 G. W. Curtis Potiphar Papers ii. 66 A dozen of the delicately engraved straw-stems that stood upon the waiter. straw tick n. [tick n.²] U.S. a straw-filled mattress. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > mattress > filled with straw pallet1370 palliasse1506 pad1554 pouffe1583 straw-bed1585 pallet bed1620 pallet-couch1815 straw tick1931 1931 Amer. Speech 7 169 Most of these [mattresses and ticks] were filled with corn husks, straw or hay, and were called ‘husk ticks’, ‘hay mattresses’, and ‘straw ticks’. 1949 L. I. Wilder Long Winter viii. 68 They must fill the straw ticks with hay, because there was no straw in this new country. 1954 W. Faulkner Fable 195 He was sleeping on a straw tick in the lodge room over the store. straw vote n. originally U.S. an unofficial vote taken in order to indicate the relative strength of opposing candidates or issues. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > expression of choice by some approved method > [noun] > unofficial vote straw vote1866 straw ballot1932 straw poll1932 1866 Cleveland (Ohio) Leader 6 Oct. 4/2 A straw vote taken on a Toledo train yesterday resulted as follows; A. Johnson 12; Congress, 47. 1887 San Francisco Thunderbolt 4 Nov. 1. The straw vote taken at the ‘Report’ office is unreliable. 1906 Daily Chron. 24 Oct. 4/5 ‘Straw’ votes, which have recently been taken in the New York State campaign, indicate that Mr. Hearst will be badly beaten. 1977 R. Holland Self & Social Context v. 175 A special session on legal registration produced a straw vote which revealed an even balance of viewpoint. straw wine n. a luscious wine made from grapes dried or partly dried in the sun on straw. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > wine > types of wine > [noun] > other types of wine myrrhed winec1429 tyre1429 rochec1440 rospeys1440 raspis?a1450 caprika1475 garnade?c1475 whippetc1500 rampion?1520 Ribadavia1542 romanisk1542 Mountrosec1560 raspis wine1562 whippincrusta1593 charneco1594 absinthites1601 pitch wine1601 myrrh wine1609 wine of astonishment1611 deal1613 Sherant1620 Sheranino1632 Grecoa1660 Langoon1674 generousa1717 Massic1751 rasped wine1823 straw wine1824 vin de paille1833 vin jaune1833 vino tierno1911 mistelle1924 rancio1939 boerwyn1947 1824 A. Henderson Hist. Wines 172 The liquor..receives the name of straw wine (vin de paille). 1833 C. Redding Hist. Mod. Wines vii. 208 Straw wines are made in Franconia. straw wisp n. a small bundle or twist of straw; also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > cultivation of plants or crops > harvesting > [noun] > bundle of hay or straw feald?14.. bottlec1405 bunch?a1505 straw wisp?a1513 stook1571 wad1573 botillage1576 windling1645 pottle1730 bolting1784 strike1817 windle1825 wap1828 hay-pack1841 wake1847 plack1871 tibbin1900 a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 207 Stra wispis hingis owt. 1679 in J. Evelyn Pomona in Sylva (ed. 3) 407 Instead of the straw-wisp, a Basket may be fitted, which with a little straw within will keep the Fruit in better order. ?1760 S. Haliburton Mem. Magopico v. 19 The Man is..a plain undesigning Noseo'wax, a Cat's Paw, a Straw wisp. straw-wisped adj. enwreathed with a straw wisp. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > intertwining or interweaving > [adjective] > intertwined or interwoven > with something spec. straw-wisped1860 1860 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne in New Monthly Mag. Feb. 142 In spite of his smock-frock and his straw-wisped hat, and his false whiskers,..she knew him for her brother. † straw woad n. Obsolete some variety of woad. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > plants used in dyeing > [noun] > woad woadeOE ash of Jerusalem1548 glastum?c1550 pastel1578 straw woad1612 dyer's woad1860 dyer's weed1866 1612 Bk. Customs & Valuation in A. Halyburton Ledger (1867) 332 Woad called Iland grene woad or stra woad the tun 1^cxx li. straw-work n. work done in plaited straw. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making of other specific articles or materials > [noun] > work done in specific materials straw-worka1684 waxwork1723 a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1646 (1955) II. 501 They are curious in Straw-worke among the Nunns, even to admiration. 1798 Monthly Mag. June 429 The principal manufacture is straw-work..which is confined to about six or eight miles round Dunstable. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 463 Cabinets, boxes, and cardcases..decorated with a covering of coloured Straw-work, much resembling Mosaic work. straw-worm n. the caddis-worm. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > division Endopterygota or Metabola (winged) > [noun] > order Trichoptera > family Phryganeidae or genus Phryganea > member of (caddis-fly) > larva of codwormc1450 casewormc1565 codbait1620 caddis-worm1627 straw-bait1632 caddis1653 cockspur1653 piper1653 ruffcoat1653 straw-worm1653 cadew1668 cad1674 caddis-bait1833 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler xii. 232 There is also another Cadis called by some a Straw-worm . View more context for this quotation straw-yellow n. and adj. = straw colour n., straw-coloured adj. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [noun] > pale yellow gullnessa1300 butter colour1629 wheat-colour1711 straw colour1737 jonquil1791 straw-yellow1794 straw1799 wax-yellow1805 sulphur-yellow1816 wax-colour1854 daffodil1855 sulphur-colour1866 sherry colour1871 tea rose1872 mastic1890 wheat1915 sulphur1924 straw-gold1963 buttermilk1977 the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > pale yellow gull13.. flaxen?1523 palew1547 straw-coloured1585 branlie1589 straw colour1589 flaxy1634 festucine1646 sulphureous1656 flaxenish1661 butter colour1665 strawy1668 straw-yellow1794 bombycinous1796 sulphur-coloured1811 sherry-yellow1813 sulphur-yellow1816 bombasic1825 straw1842 wax-coloured1842 stramineous1845 maize-coloured1852 daffodil1855 daw1856 flax1873 sherry-coloured1875 mastic1890 sulpho-chromic1895 ochroid1897 wheat-coloured1898 sulphurous1899 sulphury1900 tea rose1900 straw-pale1922 1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. 29 Straw yellow. 1832 D. Brewster Lett. Nat. Magic xxxiv. 285 The finest varieties..transmit a straw-yellow tint. 1843 J. E. Portlock Rep. Geol. Londonderry 214 From yellowish-brown to rich straw yellow. Draft additions June 2016 straw mushroom n. a small edible mushroom, Volvariella volvacea (family Pluteaceae), pale tan in colour with a darker brown cap, cultivated primarily on rice straw in East and South-East Asia and harvested while immature, before the cap is fully developed; also paddy-straw mushroom. ΚΠ 1919 North-China Herald 4 Oct. 23/2 They are what are known as straw mushrooms, that is those grown on straw. 1975 J. H. Burnett Mycogenetics xii. 235 The mushroom industry, based on Agaricus bisporus in Europe and Asia and on the paddy-straw mushroom (Volvariella spp.) and shiitake..in Asia. 2007 Vanity Fair June 175/2 Then a miso soup with straw mushrooms and seaweed. 2014 T. Cotter Org. Mushroom Farming 354 (caption) Paddy straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) showing the beautiful sac-like volvas and pinkish gills they develop as they mature. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). † strawn.² Obsolete. Apparently some foreign denomination of weight. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [noun] > unit or denomination of weight > other disused units markOE peisea1382 straw1540 scruple1656 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 14 §2 [Freight from Denmark] Item for everie strawe of wax of xvj C. waight xiiij s. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2021). strawadj. Brit. /strɔː/, U.S. /strɔ/, /strɑ/ Etymology: Short for straw-coloured adj. = straw-coloured adj. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > colour > named colours > yellow or yellowness > [adjective] > pale yellow gull13.. flaxen?1523 palew1547 straw-coloured1585 branlie1589 straw colour1589 flaxy1634 festucine1646 sulphureous1656 flaxenish1661 butter colour1665 strawy1668 straw-yellow1794 bombycinous1796 sulphur-coloured1811 sherry-yellow1813 sulphur-yellow1816 bombasic1825 straw1842 wax-coloured1842 stramineous1845 maize-coloured1852 daffodil1855 daw1856 flax1873 sherry-coloured1875 mastic1890 sulpho-chromic1895 ochroid1897 wheat-coloured1898 sulphurous1899 sulphury1900 tea rose1900 straw-pale1922 1842 Penny Cycl. XXIII. 3/2 The annexed are the tempering heats, colours, and uses of steel of different degrees of hardness:—430° Fah., very faint yellow; for lancets. 450° pale straw; razors and surgeons' instruments. 1862 M. Brown Catal. Postage Stamps (ed. 2) 21 Letters in each corner of stamp. 3 d. pink, 4 d. vermilion, 9 d. straw. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). strawv.¹ Brit. /strɔː/, U.S. /strɔ/, /strɑ/ Forms: Past tense and past participle strawed (rarely past participle strawn). Obsolete exc. archaic. Also Middle English strauwe. Etymology: Apparently representing a dialect pronunciation (with rising diphthong) of Old English streawian variant of streowian strew v. = strew v. 1. a. transitive. To scatter, spread loosely; to scatter (rushes, straw, flowers, etc.) on the ground or floor, or over the surface of something; to scatter or sprinkle (something in powder) over a surface. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew strew971 strayOE strawc1175 instriec1420 streak?c1440 overstrewc1450 straw1549 bestrew1667 spurna1722 the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew > strew (a surface) with something bestrewa1000 strawc1175 straw13.. strewc1384 snowc1400 overstrewc1450 strew1540 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8193 To strawwenn gode gresess þær Þatt stunnkenn swiþe swete. a1300 Floriz & Bl. (Cambr.) 436 Cupen he let fulle of flures, To strawen in þe maidenes bures. c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf.) 207 I bad hem strawen [v.rr. strawe, strowe(n] floures on my bed. c1430 Two Cookery-bks. i. 23 Take pouder Pepir, & Canelle, & straw þer-on. c1440 Sir Eglam. 376 Bryght helmes he fonde strawed wyde, As men of armys had loste ther pryde. c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 230 Now sche berith aischis out, now sche strawith rischis in the halle. c1480 (a1400) St. Agatha 254 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 365 Þane bad he schellis & brynnand cole straw in þe floure. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 417/3 Thenne Julyan..dyd doo Strawe Salte on the body. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxi. f. xxix Other cut doune braunches from the trees, and strawed [so 1611; 1881 Revised spread; Gk. ἐστρώννυον] them in the waye. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12145 Hire blod all aboute aboue hit was sched, And strawet in þe strete, strenklit full þik. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iii. xxvii. 354 Aloë, made into powder & strawen vpon newe blooddy woundes, stoppeth the blood, and healeth the wounde. 1594 Good Huswifes Handmaide 22 b Take great Raisons and minse them small, and plucke out the kernels, and strawe them in the bottome of your pie. 1657 W. Coles Adam in Eden cxlix The affected place being bathed with the decoction thereof, and the powder strawed on afterwards. 1725 H. Bourne Antiquitates Vulgares iv. 26 That other Custom of strawing Flowers upon the Graves of their departed Friends, is also derived from a Custom of the ancient Church. 1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. iii. iv. 332 The strawing small chaff..on the bottom of the pigeon-house, is very proper. 1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Straw, to spread grass, when mown to strew. 1896 R. Kipling Seven Seas 8 We have strawed our best..To the shark and the sheering gull. †b. With abroad. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew strew971 strayOE strawc1175 instriec1420 streak?c1440 overstrewc1450 straw1549 bestrew1667 spurna1722 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. 1 Tim. i. f. iiii In stedde of the sure doctrine of Christ, they strawe abrode vayne smokes & mystes of Jewishe questions. 1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) II. 1157/1 After that..the Cardinall, vnderstode these bookes of the Beggars supplication..to be strawne abroad in the streetes of London,..the sayd Cardinall [etc.]. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 106 Some saye, the ashes of his bodie were after his death strawed abroade through the Ile of Salamina. c. absol. (The chief modern use, in allusion to Matthew xxv. 24.) ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter or be dispersed [verb (intransitive)] > scatter skaila1300 to fall (also go) by the wayside1526 straw1526 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xxv. f. xxxvj Which..gadderest where thou strawedst not [1611 where thou hast not strawed (1880 Revised where thou didst not scatter); Gk. διεσκόρπισας]. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme cxii. 29 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 182 He giues where needs, nay rather straweth, His iustice neuer ending. 1861 J. R. Lowell Washers of Shroud 26 Still men and nations reap as they have strawn. 1914 J. K. Graham Anno Domini 76 The soul..anticipates an epoch of halcyon splendour when it shall gather where it has strawed. 2. To cover (the ground, a floor, etc.) with something loosely scattered, e.g. rushes, straw, flowers. Now rare or Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew > strew (a surface) with something bestrewa1000 strawc1175 straw13.. strewc1384 snowc1400 overstrewc1450 strew1540 13.. K. Alis. 1026 With rose, and swete flores, Was strawed [Laud MS. ystrewed] halles, and bouris. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1617 Eche a strete was striked & strawed wiþ floures. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2690 Al þe feldes þoȝte y-strawed of dede men al aboute. c1386 G. Chaucer Squire's Tale 606 Though thou..strawe hir cage faire and softe as silk. c1450 Mirk's Festial 39 Hys hall was yche day of þe ȝere new strawed, yn somer wyth grene rosches, and yn wyntyr wyth clen hay. 1544 T. Phaer Of Pestilence (1553) L vi It is good in hote time, to straw y^e chamber ful of willow leues and other fresh boughes. 1572 L. Mascall tr. in Bk. Plant & Graffe Trees 69 The black figges..being dried in the sunne, and then laid in a vessell in beddes one by another, and then sprinckled or strawed all ouer, euery laye with fine meale. 1587 T. Newton tr. L. Lemnius Herbal for Bible xvi. 94 With the which [sedge] many in this Countrie do vse in Sommer time to strawe their Parlours, and Churches. 1591 H. Savile tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. iv. 169 The streetes were strawed with dead carcases. 1596 T. Danett tr. P. de Commynes Hist. viii. vi. 333 And gather vp the launces wherewith the place lay strawed. 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 41 Which..hath beene sprinkled with the bloud..and strawne with the ashes, of those blessed Saints. 1650 T. Bayly Worcesters Apophthegmes 23 We had..laid some loose boards, and strawed the new made floar with rushes. figurative.1606 T. Dekker Seuen Deadly Sinnes London i. sig. C2 Their seruants, wiues and children strawing the way before him with curses.1676 T. Baker Let. in S. P. Rigaud & S. J. Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men 17th Cent. (1841) (modernized text) II. 2 You have most ingeniously strawed the way for its invention. †3. To make or lay (a bed). Also absol. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > prepare [verb (transitive)] > prepare or put in order > specifically a bed makec1300 strawa1400 laya1616 strew1810 a1400 St. Gregory (Vernon MS.) 574 Þe wyf strauwede [Cotton MS. (older text) strowiþ] him ful soft Þer he in Chaumbre schulde leyn. 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iii. v. sig. R j^v Commaunde the seruantes to make or straw a bedde. 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus iii. v. sig. Rj^v Cause..a bryde bed to be strawen for vs. 4. To be strewn or spread upon. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter [verb (transitive)] > scatter loosely or strew > be strewn upon strew1513 overstrew1558 straw1593 bestrew1715 1593 Extracts Munic. Acc. Newcastle (1848) 29 Paide for earbes and rushes which strawde the chapple, 2s. 1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad iv. 6 And the tent of night in tatters Straws the sky-pavilioned land. 1898 J. B. Wollocombe From Morn till Eve i. 8 The green rushes that strawed the hall. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). strawv.² Brit. /strɔː/, U.S. /strɔ/, /strɑ/ Forms: Also Middle English strowe. Etymology: < straw n.¹ 1. transitive. To supply with straw. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > [verb (transitive)] > bed down littera1398 strawc1440 bedc1480 c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 480/2 Strowyn, or lyteryn, stramino. 1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 47 Gyue heye to the hors And strawe them well [Fr. et les estraines bien]. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 44/1 And brought hym in and strowed his cameles and gaf them chaff and heye. 2. intransitive (slang.) See quot. 1851. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > sell specific things [verb (intransitive)] > sell straws as cover straw1851 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > act fraudulently, cheat [verb (intransitive)] faitc1330 defraudc1384 to take (the) advantagea1393 false1393 halt1412 haft1519 juggle1528 wily beguile1550 foist1584 lurch1593 fog1621 imposture1624 rook1637 impone1640 cheat1647 chicane1671 humbug1753 fineer1765 gag1781 mountebank1814 jockeya1835 sniggle1837 barney1848 straw1851 honeyfuggle1856 skinch1891 finagle1926 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 215/1 The practice of what is called ‘strawing’, or selling straws in the street, and giving away with them something..forbidden to be sold,—as indecent papers, [etc.]. Derivatives strawed adj. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > [adjective] > scattered loosely or strewn > strewn with something > specific strawed1887 1887 J. J. Hissey Holiday on Road 103 Farmsteads..with..their deeply strawed yards. ˈstrawing n. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > [noun] > selling straws for cover strawing1851 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > [noun] > action bulling1532 cogging1570 cozening1576 coney-catching1591 fool-taking1592 gulling1600 bat-fowling1602 sharking1602 imposturing1618 mountebanking1672 shamming1677 sharping1692 fineering1765 overreachinga1774 pigeoning1808 flat-catching1821 thimble-shifting1834 thimblerigging1839 strawing1851 thimbling1857 fiddling1884 piking1884 ramping1891 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 239/1 I have already alluded to ‘strawing’. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1919; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹c950n.²1540adj.1842v.¹c1175v.²c1440
随便看	be in one's fruits be in one's minims be in one's moods be in one's right etc be in one's right mind be in one's right sense be in one's right senses be in one's right wits be in one's way be in or at a person's bandon be in over one's head be in pension be in petticoats be in pledge be in possession be in possession of be in purpose be in raptures be in rarely on the secret be in reproach be in requisition be in right be in roasting ear be in sand be in season

strawn.1

Compounds

Draft additions June 2016

† strawn.2

strawadj.

strawv.1

strawv.2

Derivatives

strawn.¹

† strawn.²

strawv.¹

strawv.²