- (Abbr. Str. or St.) A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.
- A position of difficulty, perplexity, distress, or need. Often used in the plural: in desperate straits.
- Difficult; stressful.
- Having or marked by limited funds or resources.
- Archaic.
- Narrow.
- Affording little space or room; confined.
- Fitting tightly; constricted.
- Archaic. Strict, rigid, or righteous.
[Middle English streit, narrow, a strait, from Old French estreit, tight, narrow, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere, to draw tight.]
straitly strait'ly adv.straitness strait'ness n.
