Forms: 5 stric, strek, stryche, 5–7 strik, 5, (9 Sc.) streek, 6 streeke, strycke, 6–7 stricke, 6– strick. [f. *strik- wk.-grade of the root of STRIKE v. Cf. OF. estrique (= sense 3), Pg. estriga (= sense 1).]
1. A bundle of broken hemp, flax, jute, etc., for heckling. Cf. STRIKE sb. 2.
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 696/12. Hic linipolus, a stric of lyne.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 479/2. Streek, of flax (Kylw. A. P. linipulus).
1616. Surfl. & Markham, Country Farm, V. xviii. 568. So you shall beate this flaxe till it handle as soft as any silke, then vnplat the strickes againe, and heckle it through the second heckle.
1673. A. Walker, Leez Lachrymans, 8. The Blaze, a lock or strik of Flax, which gives but one flash, and dyes.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 106/2. A Head of Flax, is twelve Stricks tied up to make a Bunch. A Strick, is about ten handfulls [of hemp or flax] made up together in a head.
1823. A. Robb, Poems & Songs (1852), 115.
| Lat ’s hear a kindly word frae you, | |
| For I can wyte nae langer; | |
| A streek o’ lint I canna’ pu’, | |
| Nor ‘skirl up the Bangor.’ |
1847. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. II. 385. It is considered best to divide the labour of cleaning each strick of flax among three different stands.
1881. Spons’ Encycl. Industr. Arts, etc. iv. 1243. Each stone [of 14 lb.] contains 5–8 ‘stricks’ or handfuls of finished flax, and each strick is composed of two ‘fingers,’ two of the small lots that have been treated at one operation in the scutching-process.
b. In Silk-manuf. A bunch of silk fiber.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 63/1. When the spikes are sufficiently filled [with silk fibre], the lap is cut…, and so stripped from the drum it forms a definite number of ‘stricks.’
2. A measure of capacity for corn, coal, etc.; also the measuring vessel. Cf. STRAIK sb.1 2, STRIKE sb. 4. Now dial.
1421. Coventry Leet Book, 27. He schall haue a strik of corne for his labour.
1530. in Phillipps, Wills (c. 1830), 177. I bequethe to … our Lady at Bretforton a strycke of barley.
1569. Nottingham Rec. (1889), IV. 135. Payd … for makyng of a sealle to sealle stryckes wyth alle xij d.
1576–7. Ludlow Churchw. Acc. (Camden), 165. Item, for half a strick of coales, ij d.
1600. in T. North, Bells Lincs. (1882), 512. Item pd to Anthony harte for a strick of mawlt … iijs. iiijd.
1893–4. Northumbld. Gloss., Streek,… applied occasionally to the measure of corn itself, a streek being understood for a bushel.
3. A piece of wood with which surplus grain is struck off level with the rim of the measure. Cf. STRICKLE sb. 1, STRIKE sb. 3 a. Now dial.
14[?]. Lat.-Eng. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 588/13. Hostorium, a stryche.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 479/1. Strek, of a mesure as of a buschel or other lyke, hostorium.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 256/1. Radius,… that which Bakers vse to make their meale measures euen: a streeke or strichell. Ibid., 341/1. Hostorium,… a stritchill: a stricke: a … peece of wood … wherewith measures are made euen.
Comb. 1886. W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v. Strick 2, So ‘strick-measure’ means level, in distinction from ‘heap-measure,’ as peas, potatoes, fruit, &c. are sold.
