Part 849

Stra*tog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; an army + -graphy.] A description of an army, or of what belongs to an army.

Stra*ton"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; an army.] Of or pertaining to an army. [R.]

Stra*tot"ic (?), a. Warlike; military. [R.]

Stra"tum (?), n.; pl. E. Stratums (#), L. Strata (#). The latter is more common. [L., from sternere, stratum, to spread; akin to Gr. &?; to spread, strew. See Strew, and cf. Consternation, Estrade, Prostrate, Stratus, Street.] 1. (Geol.) A bed of earth or rock of one kind, formed by natural causes, and consisting usually of a series of layers, which form a rock as it lies between beds of other kinds. Also used figuratively.

2. A bed or layer artificially made; a course.

Stra"tus (?), n. [L. stratus a spreading out, scattering, from sternere, stratum, to spread.] (Meteor.) A form of clouds in which they are arranged in a horizontal band or layer. See Cloud.

Straught (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Stretch.

Straught, v. t. To stretch; to make straight. [Written also straucht.] [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Straw (?), v. t. To spread or scatter. See Strew, and Strow. Chaucer.

Straw, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. streáw, from the root of E. strew; akin to OFries. str, D. stroo, G. stroh, OHG. str, Icel. str, Dan. straa, Sw. strå. √166. See Strew.] 1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease.

2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw.

3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere trifle.

I set not a straw by thy dreamings.

Chaucer.

Straw is often used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like.

Man of straw, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an irresponsible person; a puppet. -- Straw bail, worthless bail, as being given by irresponsible persons. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Straw bid, a worthless bid; a bid for a contract which the bidder is unable or unwilling to fulfill. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Straw cat (Zoöl.), the pampas cat. -- Straw color, the color of dry straw, being a delicate yellow. -- Straw drain, a drain filled with straw. -- Straw plait, or Straw plat, a strip formed by plaiting straws, used for making hats, bonnets, etc. -- To be in the straw, to be brought to bed, as a pregnant woman. [Slang]

Straw"ber*ry (?), n. [AS. streáwberige; streáw straw + berie berry; perhaps from the resemblance of the runners of the plant to straws.] (Bot.) A fragrant edible berry, of a delicious taste and commonly of a red color, the fruit of a plant of the genus Fragaria, of which there are many varieties. Also, the plant bearing the fruit. The common American strawberry is Fragaria virginiana; the European, F. vesca. There are also other less common species.

Strawberry bass. (Zoöl.) See Calico bass, under Calico. -- Strawberry blite. (Bot.) See under Blite. -- Strawberry borer (Zoöl.), any one of several species of insects whose larvæ burrow in the crown or roots of the strawberry vine. Especially: (a) The root borer (Anarsia lineatella), a very small dark gray moth whose larvæ burrow both in the larger roots and crown, often doing great damage. (b) The crown borer (Tyloderma fragariæ), a small brown weevil whose larva burrows in the crown and kills the plant. -- Strawberry bush (Bot.), an American shrub (Euonymus Americanus), a kind of spindle tree having crimson pods and the seeds covered with a scarlet aril. -- Strawberry crab (Zoöl.), a small European spider crab (Eurynome aspera); -- so called because the back is covered with pink tubercles. -- Strawberry fish (Zoöl.), the amadavat. -- Strawberry geranium (Bot.), a kind of saxifrage (Saxifraga sarmentosa) having reniform leaves, and producing long runners like those of the strawberry. -- Strawberry leaf. (a) The leaf of the strawberry. (b) The symbol of the rank or estate of a duke, because the ducal coronet is twined with strawberry leaves. "The strawberry leaves on her chariot panels are engraved on her ladyship's heart." Thackeray. -- Strawberry-leaf roller (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moths whose larvæ roll up, and feed upon, the leaves of the strawberry vine; especially, Phoxopteris fragariæ, and Eccopsis permundana. -- Strawberry moth (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moth whose larvæ feed on the strawberry vines; as: (a) The smeared dagger (Apatela oblinita), whose large hairy larva is velvety black with two rows of bright yellow spots on each side. (b) A geometrid (Angerona crocataria) which is yellow with dusky spots on the wings. Called also currant moth. -- Strawberry pear (Bot.), the red ovoid fruit of a West Indian plant of the genus Cereus (C. triangularia). It has a sweetish flavor, and is slightly acid, pleasant, and cooling. Also, the plant bearing the fruit. -- Strawberry sawfly (Zoöl.), a small black sawfly (Emphytus maculatus) whose larva eats the leaves of the strawberry vine. -- Strawberry tomato. (Bot.) See Alkekengi. -- Strawberry tree. (Bot.) See Arbutus. -- Strawberry vine (Bot.), the plant which yields the strawberry. -- Strawberry worm (Zoöl.), the larva of any moth which feeds on the strawberry vine.

Straw"board` (?), n. Pasteboard made of pulp of straw.

Straw"-col`ored (?), a. Being of a straw color. See Straw color, under Straw, n.

Straw"-cut`ter (?), n. An instrument to cut straw for fodder.

Strawed (?), imp. & p. p. of Straw. [Obs.]

Straw"worm` (?), n. A caddice worm.

Straw"y (?), a. Of or pertaining to straw; made of, or resembling, straw. Shak.

Stray (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Strayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Straying.] [OF. estraier, estraer, to stray, or as adj., stray, fr. (assumed) L. stratarius roving the streets, fr. L. strata (sc. via) a paved road. See Street, and Stray, a.] 1. To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.

Thames among the wanton valleys strays.

Denham.

2. To wander from company, or from the proper limits; to rove at large; to roam; to go astray.