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strait-laced

 - 3 dictionary results

strait-laced

  [streyt-leyst]
Use strait-laced in a Sentence
–adjective
1. excessively strict in conduct or morality; puritanical; prudish: strait-laced censors.
2. tightly laced, as a bodice.
3. wearing tightly laced garments.
Also, straight-laced.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME

Related forms:
strait-lac⋅ed⋅ly  [streyt-ley-sid-lee, -leyst-lee] , adverb
strait-lac⋅ed⋅ness, noun

strait-lace

  [streyt-leys]
–verb (used with object), -laced, -lac⋅ing.
to bind, confine, or restrain with or as if with laces.
Origin:
1630–40; back formation from strait-laced
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To strait-laced
strait-laced or straight-laced   (strāt'lāst')
adj.  

  1. Excessively strict in behavior, morality, or opinions.

  2. Having or wearing a tightly laced garment.


[strait, tightly (obsolete) + -laced (from lace).]
strait'-lac'ed·ly (-lā'sĭd-lē, -lāst'lē) adv., strait'-lac'ed·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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