colloq. Short for STRADIVARIUS.
1880. Altoona Tribune, 12 Feb., 1/5. A ‘Strad’ is now worth as merchandise at least twice as much, and generally three times as much, as any Amati instrument in equally good condition.
1884. Haweis, Musical Life, III. i. 218. The exquisite sweetness and freshness of the Dolphin ‘Strad.’ excited most admiration.
1908. Daily News, 29 Feb., 7. The trade in Strads is confined to a very few dealers.
