strait

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A narrow channel of sea connecting two larger areas of water.

   Ships pass through the strait between the two islands every day.

2. 2
   noun

   A difficult situation, especially money trouble (usually plural: straits).

   After losing his job, the family was in dire straits.

From Middle English streit, from Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō (“compress, tighten”). Doublet of stretto and strict.

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