subs. (stock exchange).—A contract in which the holder can call for (or the signatory can deliver) stock at a fixed price: a speculation covering both a PUT and a CALL (q.v.): cf. SPREAD-EAGLE. Also as verb.
Verb. (American political).—To adopt a non-committal attitude; to favour both sides; ‘to sit on the FENCE’ (q.v.): also as subs.
1884. The Nation, 3 July, 4, 1. The platform contains the well-known plank ‘STRADDLING’ the tariff question.
