Obs. exc. dial. Also 4 pl. streyves, strayves, 6 straiff, strayff, 9 strafe. [Alteration of STRAY sb., to match waif.] A stray animal or thing. Chiefly in waif and straif: see WAIF sb.

1

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 94. Of wardes and wardmotes, weyues and streyues [1393 C. I. 92. strayues].

2

1447.  Shillingford Lett., etc. (Camden), 99. He and his predecessours … have had view of Frank Plegge weif and straif and all other profits longing to a viewe.

3

1509–10.  Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 195. Redd. Ass. De ancaragia nil hoc anno, nec de wryk, nec de strayff, nec de wayff, nec de infanketheyff hoc anno.

4

1535–6.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 23. Lordes Marchers … shall haue … Wayff, Straiff, Infanthef, Outfanthef, Treasoure Troves.

5

1876.  Whitby Gloss., Waif and Straif, articles, by chance, washed up on the beach by the sea, as wreck materials; here they are the property of the manor owner.

6

1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropshire Word-bk., Strafe, a stray animal.

7