Strait vs Dardanelles - What's the difference?
As an adjective strait
is (archaic) narrow; restricted as to space or room; close.
As a noun strait
is (geography) a narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water.
As a verb strait
is (obsolete) to put to difficulties.
As an adverb strait
is (obsolete) strictly; rigorously.
As a proper noun dardanelles is
the strait connecting the sea of marmara with the aegean sea to the west.
(archaic) Narrow; restricted as to space or room; close.
* 1866 , , Aholibah , lines 53-55
- too strait and low our cottage doors
- Sweet oil was poured out on thy head
- And ran down like cool rain between
* 1900 , , To One in Bedlam , lines 3-5
- The strait close locks it melted in.
- Those scentless wisps of straw, that miserably line
- His strait , caged universe, whereat the dull world stares,
(archaic) Righteous, strict.
- Pedant and pitiful.
* 1597 , , IV. iii. 79:
- to follow the strait and narrow
* Bible, Acts xxvi. 5 (Rev. Ver.)
- some certain edicts and some strait decrees
(obsolete) Tight; close; tight-fitting.
* 1613 , , III. vi. 86:
- the straitest sect of our religion
(obsolete) Close; intimate; near; familiar.
* Sir Philip Sidney
- Is not this piece too strait ? / No, no, 'tis well.
(obsolete) Difficult; distressful; straited.
- a strait degree of favour
(obsolete) Parsimonious; niggardly; mean.
* 1596 , , V. vii. 42:
- to make your strait' circumstances yet ' straiter
- I beg cold comfort, and you are so strait , / And so ingrateful, you deny me that.
The adjective is often confused with straight.
(geography) A narrow channel of water connecting two larger bodies of water.
* De Foe
- The Strait of Gibraltar
A narrow pass or passage.
- We steered directly through a large outlet which they call a strait , though it be fifteen miles broad.
* 1602 , , III. iii. 154:
- He brought him through a darksome narrow strait / To a broad gate all built of beaten gold.
A neck of land; an isthmus.
- For honour travels in a strait so narrow / Where one but goes abreast.
A difficult position (often used in plural).
- a dark strait of barren land
- to be in dire straits
- Let no man, who owns a Providence, grow desperate under any calamity or strait whatsoever.
- Ulysses made use of the pretense of natural infirmity to conceal the straits he was in at that time in his thoughts.
* dire straits
(obsolete) To put to difficulties.
(obsolete) Strictly; rigorously.
* 1593 , , III. ii. 20:
- Proceed no straiter 'gainst our uncle Gloucester
(en proper noun
The strait connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea to the west.