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definitions

strapped

[strapt]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR strapped ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

needy; wanting: The company is rather strapped for funds.

Origin of strapped

First recorded in 1775–85; strap + -ed2
Related formswell-strapped, adjective

strap

[strap]

noun

a narrow strip of flexible material, especially leather, as for fastening or holding things together.
a looped band by which an item may be held, pulled, lifted, etc., as a bootstrap or a ring that standing passengers may hold on to in a bus, subway, or the like.
a strop for a razor.
a long, narrow object or piece of something; strip; band.
an ornamental strip or band.
shoulder strap.
watchband.
Machinery. a shallow metal fitting surrounding and retaining other parts, as on the end of a rod.
Nautical, Machinery. strop(def 2).

verb (used with object), strapped, strap·ping.

to fasten or secure with a strap or straps.
to fasten (a thing) around something in the manner of a strap.
to sharpen on a strap or strop: to strap a razor.
to beat or flog with a strap.

Origin of strap

First recorded in 1565–75; variant of strop
Related formsstrap·pa·ble, adjectivestrap·like, adjectivere·strap, verb (used with object), re·strapped, re·strap·ping.un·der·strap, nounun·der·strap, verb (used with object), un·der·strapped, un·der·strap·ping.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for strapped

impoverished, broke, beggared, flat, penniless, penurious, poor, stone-broke

Examples from the Web for strapped

Contemporary Examples of strapped

Historical Examples of strapped

  • Smithy climbed into the rear cockpit and strapped himself in.

    Two Thousand Miles Below

    Charles Willard Diffin

  • Leaving the horse to run steadily on the road he strapped himself with the gun.

    Louisiana Lou

    William West Winter

  • This she strapped down so tightly that, for the time at least, the bleeding was staunched.

    The Night Riders

    Ridgwell Cullum

  • Her books she had strapped to the saddle-horn; there was a yellow slicker at the cantle.

  • Our chaplain took it from him and had it strapped to his saddle-bag.

    War from the Inside

    Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock

British Dictionary definitions for strapped

strapped

adjective

(postpositive often foll by for) slang badly in need (of money, manpower, etc); short of

strap

noun

a long strip of leather or similar material, for binding trunks, baggage, or other objects
a strip of leather or similar material used for carrying, lifting, or holding
a loop of leather, rubber, etc, suspended from the roof in a bus or train for standing passengers to hold on to
a razor strop
commerce a triple option on a security or commodity consisting of one put option and two call options at the same price and for the same periodCompare strip 2 (def. 5)
Irish derogatory, slang a shameless or promiscuous woman
the strap a beating with a strap as a punishment
short for shoulder strap
hit one's straps Australian informal to achieve one's full potential or become fully effective

verb straps, strapping or strapped (tr)

to tie or bind with a strap
to beat with a strap
to sharpen with a strap or strop

Word Origin for strap

C16: variant of strop
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for strapped

strap

n.

1610s, from Scottish and/or nautical variant of strope "loop or strap on a harness" (mid-14c.), probably from Old French estrop "strap," from Latin stroppus "strap, band," perhaps from Etruscan, ultimately from Greek strophos "twisted band," from strephein "to turn" (see strophe). Old English stropp, Dutch strop "halter" also are borrowed from Latin.

strap

v.

"to fasten or secure with a strap," 1711, from strap (n.). Slang adjective strapped "short of money" is from 1857, from strap (n.) in a now-obsolete sense of "financial credit" (1828). Related: Strapped; strapping.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
strapped in Medicine

strap

[străp]

n.

A strip or piece of adhesive plaster.

v.

To support or bind a part, especially with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.