advb. phr. Forms: 4 a-strout, o strut, one strowte, 5 on strut, 5–6 a strote, 6 a strute, a strutte, 6–8 astrut, 5– a-strut. [A prep.1 + STRUT sb.]
1. Sticking out, projecting stiffly; protruding, swollen, puffed up. arch.
c. 1330. Pol. Songs, 336. The knif stant a-strout.
c. 1400. Sir Isumbras, 620. His eghne stode one strowte.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 589/1. Theyre belyes standinge a strutte with stuffing.
1606. Choice, Chance, etc., 28. With his armes astrut, like a Scarcrow in a peas-garden.
1785. Cowper, Task, V. 268. Inflated and astrut with self-conceit.
† 2. Stubbornly. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., Pref. 194. Þei schoued, þei þrist, þei stode o strut.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 49. I rede no man from him dray, In way, ne stand on strut.
3. On the strut, strutting, walking grandiosely.
