[f. STREEK v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of stretching or extending.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxi. 17. The strekynge of his body in the tre myght noght haf ben bettere dyscryed.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 479/1. Streykynge [MS. K. strekyng], or spredynge owute,… extencio, protencio.
1586. T. Bright, A Treatise of Melancholie, xxvi. 150. In streaking the muscles are contracted.
1608. Bp. Hall, Char. Vertues & Vices, II. 120. After some streaking and yawning [he] calles for dinner.
1828. Carr, Craven Gloss., Streaking, stretching.
b. spec. The laying out a corpse. Also attrib.
1777. Brand, Pop. Antiq., 23. The Ceremonies used … in what we call laying out or streeking in the North. Ibid., note. A Streeking-Board is that on which they stretch out and compose the Limbs of the dead Body.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxvii. He’s a bonny corpse,… and weel worth the streaking.
1896. Barrie, Sent. Tommy, xxvii. 317. ‘Do you know what straiking is?’ ‘Arraying the corpse for the coffin, laying it out, in short, is it not?’ ‘Ay, ay.’
2. The action of setting (a plow or other implement) to work. Streeking-time, plowing-time.
c. 1480. Henryson, Fables, Fox, Wolf & Husbandman, 4. Swa happynnit him in streiking tyme of ȝeir Airlie in the morning to follow furth his feir, Vnto the pleuch.
1555. Charters, etc. Peebles (1872), 218. At the streking of the plewis yerelie, betwix Sanct Lucas day and Mertymes, and at harrowis streking.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xxxi. § iv. (1699), 157. The season of labouring,… from the time of streiking, to upseed time.
