n.1 a long narrow band or strip differing in colour or texture from the surface on either side of it (black with a red stripe).
2 Mil. a chevron etc. denoting military rank.
3 US a category of character, opinion, etc. (a man of that stripe).
4 (usu. in pl.) archaic a blow with a scourge or lash.
5 (in pl., treated as sing.) colloq. a tiger.
Etymology: perh. back-form. f. striped: cf. MDu., MLG stripe, MHG strife