Obs. Forms: 1 strapul, 3 strapel, 4–5 straple, 5 strapul, strapylle, strapil. [OE. strapul masc., of obscure origin.] A covering for the lower part of the leg, forming the complementary part of the ‘breech,’ consisting of a fillet or band laced or bound round the limb.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 125. Tubroces, uel brace, strapulas.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 420. Sum wummon inouhreaðe wereð þe brech of heare ful wel i-knotted, and þe strapeles adun to hire uet, i-laced ful ueste.
c. 1290. Beket, 1443, in S. Eng. Leg., 147. He hadde of harde here Schuyrte and brech streit i-novȝ:… Þe strapeles weren swiþe streite.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 355. [He said] þat þey were liche to mares wiþ white legges up to þe þiȝes, for þat tyme þe Longobardes usede strapeles [v.r. straples; 1432–50 usede … whyte listes; L. usque ad suras candidis fasceolis uterentur] wiþ brode laces doun to þe sparlyver.
14[?]. in Rel. Ant. (1843), I. 82. Ther stode wonus a coke on Seynt Pale stepull toppe, and drewe up the strapuls of his brech.
14[?]. Lat.-Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 582. Femorale, a strapul.
14[?]. Nominale, Ibid. 734. Hec tribrica, the strapuls of a pare brek.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 478/2. Straple, of a breche (MS. K. strappyl), femorale, feminale.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 775. Hoc tibiale, a strapylle.
1483. Cath. Angl., 367/2. Þe Strapils of breke, tribraca.
