Sc. and north. Also 9 strake, straike, straick. [f. STRAIK v.]
1. † a. By straik: by ‘straiked’ or levelled (as distinguished from heaped) measure. Also attrib. in straik measure. Sc. Obs.
1549. Extracts Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 264. That frathinfurth na maner of malt nor beir that cumis to the guid tovnn to sell be mett in tymes cumyng bot with ane straik mesour.
1567. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 39/2. It is desyrit ane straik mett be maid vniuersalie through all þe realme. Ibid. (1587), 521/2. For eschewing of fraud hes thocht expedient that all wictuall in tyme cuming salbe mesorit be straik.
2. The normal proportion of malt for a brewing.
App. only in Scott; the quots. do not seem to justify the usual rendering ‘bushel’ (cf. STRIKE, STROKE sbs.).
1820. Scott, Abbot, xix. With a single straike of malt to counterbalance a double allowance of water. Ibid. (1821), Pirate, iv. The ‘bern’ … never quitted hold of the tankard with so much reluctance as when there had been … a double straik of malt allowed to the brewing. Ibid. (1823), Quentin D., Introd. A double straick of John Barleycorn.
† 3. A measure of timber. Obs. rare–1.
1542. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VIII. 95. Ane straik of buirdis, as the bill of compt thairupoune beris.
1844. H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, III. 1063. The sharpening should always be finished with the straik or strickle.
1894. Crockett, Lilac Sunbonnet, vii. 59. The clear metallic sound of the ‘strake’ or sharpening strop.
