Also 8 Sc. strapan, 8–9 Sc. strappan. [f. STRAP v.1 + -ING2. Cf. STRAPPER.] Originally of a young woman: † Full of activity, vigorous, lusty (obs.). Now of a person of either sex: Strongly and stoutly built, robust, sturdy.
1657. G. Thornley, Daphnis & Chloe (1893), 24. And, now and then, one of the bolder strapping girles would catch him in her arms, and kisse him.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 234. They are Strapping Sunburnt Lasses.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks. (1709), 55. One of these three young Men was taller than I by the Head, so that you may guess what a strapping Fellow he was, for I am none of the least.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. ii. (1769), 48. Patie’s grown a strapan lad.
1749. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 12 Sept. The Richcourts are arrived, and have brought with them a strapping lad of your Count.
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., viii. A strappan youth; he takes the Mother’s eye. Ibid. (1793), Meg o’ the Mill, ii. The Miller was strappin, the Miller was ruddy.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, I. 42. The under damsel, was a stout strapping country wench.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, ii. Well, it’s a pretty spot,… and one meets some fine strapping fellows about too.
1869. Blackmore, Lorna D., xiii. This Nicholas Snowe was to come in the evening, with his three tall comely daughters, strapping girls.
1902. Times, 24 July, 5/1. They … are the finest-looking men you want to see; all well-built, strapping fellows.
b. transf. Big, ‘whopping.’ rare.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 134. Sanct Salvador’s lang strappan steeple Had peltit five hours to the people.
1863. Trevelyan, Compet. Wallah (1866), 62. It is … a new … doctrine … that protection is afforded to a traffic by loading it with a strapping duty.
1893. Outing, Oct., 3/2. The team was a span of strapping mules.
