c.1327, of uncertain origin. One theory connects it with L.
stuprata, fem. pp. of
stuprare "have illicit sexual relations with," or L.L.
strupum "dishonor, violation." Others suggest M.Du.
strompe "a stocking," or
strompen "to stride, to stalk" (as a prostitute might a customer). The major sources don't seem to give much preference to any of these. Weekley notes "Gregory's
Chronicle (c.1450) has
streppett in same sense." In 18c.-early 19c., often abbreviated as
strum and also used as a v., which led to some odd dictionary entries:
TO STRUM: to have carnal knowledge of a woman, also to play badly on the harpsichord or any other stringed instrument. [Capt. Francis Grose, "A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 1796]
[struhm-pit] 
