I. ˈstrap noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration of strop band or loop of leather or rope or metal, from Middle English, band or loop of leather or rope, from Old English, thong for securing an oar; akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch strop strap, Middle High German strupfe; all from a prehistoric Germanic word borrowed from Latin struppus, stroppus band, thong, strap, from Greek strophos twisted band, cord — more at strophe
1.
a. : a band, plate, or loop of metal for binding objects together or for clamping an object in position ; also : a flexible thin flat strip of metal fastened around a box, crate, bale, or bundle for security
b. : a projecting metal tang especially when used for attaching or connecting
c. : metal strips, posts, or rods used for support or reinforcement
d. : a thin flat section of conducting material (as copper) forming part of an electrical connection
e. : a flat piece of lead in a storage battery to which the plates of a group are connected
2.
a. : a piece of rope or metal passing around a block or deadeye holding it together and used for fastening it to something — called also strop
b. : a rope with its ends spliced together used especially in slinging weights ; also : a short cable with an eye at each end
3. : a narrow usually flat strip or thong of a flexible material and especially leather used variously (as for securing, holding together, or wrapping): as
a. : a strip of leather, cloth, or webbing fitted with a clasp or buckle for adjustment and used for fastening, securing, or holding together
b. : something made of a strap, a part of one, or of a combination of two or more forming a loop
a carriage strap
a strap in a bus
c. : a band (as of adhesive plaster) used to approximate edges (as of a wound) or to hold a dressing in position
d. : a strip of leather used for flogging ; also : the use of a strap for inflicting punishment
a little boy who has been out later than he should and who is afraid … of getting his father's strap — Vernon Jarratt
e. : a piece of leather or strip of wood covered with a suitable material for sharpening a razor : strop
f. : belt 2
g. : shoulder strap
h. : a flexible strap or belt (as of cloth to which an abrasive is glued and which runs over pulleys or over a pulley and a rod or plate) used for buffing
i. : any of several wide leather strips cut and fitted to blankbook backbones and extending upon the boards between bands
j. : a band or fillet used in strapwork
k. : a flattened strip of cable (as connected to an automobile storage battery)
l. : a strip of paper used to bind a bundle of paper currency
4. or strap shoe : a shoe fastened with a usually buckled strap
5. Britain : credit
6. Irish
a. : a forward impudent girl or woman : hussy
b. : harlot
II. verb
( strapped ; strapped ; strapping ; straps )
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to secure with or attach by means of a strap
strapping mail in bundles — U.S. Post Office Manual
strapped to the pulpit is a curious wooden megaphone — Charles Gordon
strap on an oxygen tank — Stuart Chase
(2) : to bind (as a sprained joint or painful muscles) with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster
(3) : to constrict as if by a strap
his khaki bush shirt strapped him as though it were made with stays — Joseph Hitrec
a decent man strapped by dogma — New Republic
b. : to fit, furnish, or equip with a strap
strap a book
strap the deadeye
2. : to beat or punish with a strap
would not strap his pupils — H.S.Canby
3. : strop
4. : to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity
strapped its people to keep up the arms race — Atlantic
financially strapped due to the depression — Jerome Ellison
5. : to rub down (a horse) : groom
intransitive verb
Britain : to busy oneself : apply oneself actively or energetically : buckle down