string
.
Searchable Lemmata: streng (OE), sreng (Ir), streng (ME), string (OScots), string (MdE).
Alternate Forms: sreang, strænges, streing, stren3, strench, streng, strenge, strengen, strenges, strengges, strenghes, strengs, strengus, stringe, stringgis.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1a1(n.)
Manufacture;
cord, thread, line, strap; filament of some fibrous material, etc.(circa 1000 still in current use)
2. Fri sreng doib, fricuimrech ngle,/ nan-anart coir coimtige,/ bacan dron dergoir togaig/ dochur for cech noenfolaig.
Biblical/Hagiographic, Poetic.
[eDIL SR (4293) circa 1000]
Sex: N/A Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1a2(n.)
Accessory;
specifically, strip of material in the form of a ribbon or tie (for clothing, etc); a ribbon to tie the hair etc.(ante 1200 still in current use)
1. [7621] ... Þa Hengest hine igrap mid grimmen his gripen & bi þan mantle hine ibræid þat breken þa strenges ... [7728] ... Þa turres cop mitte weoren [Otho: þe toppe mihte wreie] a cniht mid his capen [Otho: cope].
Heroic, Historic.
[MED Lay.Brut ((Clg A.9) 7621-7782) circa 1205]
4. [480] ... Strynge ... instita ... [482] ... Swengyl, of a fleyle or oþer lyke: Feritorium, tribulum; Swengyl, for flax or hempe: Excudium
Lexicon.
[MED PParv. ((Hrl 221) 480-482) 1440]
Sex: N/A Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, common Germanic *strang-, giving Old English streng. It has been long suggested that the Irish word is a borrowing of the Old Norse reflex strengr, but this is not certain, particularly in view of some related Irish words (e.g. srincne 'umbilical cord'), and the Irish/SG reflexes may ultimately be from the parallel root in Celtic; another cognate lies behind latin stringere 'bind, draw tight'.
WF:
Etym Cog: (ON) strengr.
References:
Archaeological Evidence:
Vegetable fibres comparable to modern string are sometimes found in archaeological context, for example as thread on early Anglo-Saxon bead strings.
