stretch

stretch
\ \ [OE] Stretch comes from a prehistoric West Germanic *strakkjan (source also of German strecken and Dutch strekken). This was formed from a base *strak-, which probably also produced English straggle [14]. It is not certain where *strak- came from, but probably it was an alteration of *strak- ‘rigid’ (source of English starch and stark). Reversal of speech sounds (here a and r) is quite common; the process is known as metathesis. The notions of ‘rigidity’ and ‘stretching’ do not appear very compatible at first sight, but it is thought that the original application of stretch was to ‘stretching the limbs’, in the sense of making them straight or ‘stiff’. Straight comes from a former past participle of stretch.
\ \ Cf.STRAGGLE, STRAIGHT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • stretch — [stretʆ] verb 1. [transitive] FINANCE if something stretches an amount of money or a supply of something, it uses it up so you have hardly enough for your needs: • Our finances are stretched to the limit. 2. [intransitive, transitive] FINAN …   Financial and business terms

  • stretch — [ strɛtʃ ] n. m. • 1963; n. déposé , mot angl., de to stretch « allonger, étendre » ♦ Anglic. Techn. Procédé de traitement des tissus les rendant élastiques dans le sens horizontal. ♢ Par ext. Le tissu ainsi traité. Du stretch. Des stretchs. Par… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Stretch — Stretch, n. 1. Act of stretching, or state of being stretched; reach; effort; struggle; strain; as, a stretch of the limbs; a stretch of the imagination. [1913 Webster] By stretch of arms the distant shore to gain. Dryden. [1913 Webster] Those… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stretch — can refer to: *Stretching is a form of exercise or a pre exercise discipline, sometimes called Warming up *Stretch ceiling, a type of ceiling made from polymer. *Stretch ratio in the mechanics of materials *Stretched tuning of certain string… …   Wikipedia

  • stretch — ► VERB 1) (of something soft or elastic) be made or be able to be made longer or wider without tearing or breaking. 2) pull (something) tightly from one point to another. 3) extend one s body or a part of one s body to its full length. 4) last… …   English terms dictionary

  • stretch — [strech] vt. [ME strecchen < OE streccan, akin to Ger strecken < IE * sterg < base * (s)ter , to be stiff, rigid > STARE] 1. to hold out or reach out; extend [to stretch out a helping hand] 2. to cause (the body or limbs) to reach out …   English World dictionary

  • Stretch — Stretch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stretched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stretching}.] [OE. strecchen, AS. streccan; akin to D. strekken, G. strecken, OHG. strecchen, Sw. str[ a]cka, Dan. str[ae]kke; cf. AS. str[ae]ck, strec, strong, violent, G. strack… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stretch — 〈[ strɛ̣tʃ] m.; ; unz.〉 elastische Wirkware (BaumwollStretch, NylonStretch) [zu engl. stretch „dehnen“ <aengl. steccan; verwandt mit strecken] * * * Stretch [strɛt̮ʃ], der; [e]s, es [ strɛt̮ʃɪs] [zu engl. to stretch = dehnen]: sehr elastisches …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Stretch — (engl. für „Strecke“, „Zeitraum“ aber auch „Ausdehnung“) steht für: Stretch (Unternehmen), ein US amerikanischer Halbleiterhersteller mit Niederlassungen in Japan und Deutschland Stretch (Band), eine britische Bluesrock Band, 1973 78 Ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • stretch — stretch; stretch·abil·i·ty; stretch·able; stretch·berry; stretch·er; un·stretch; …   English syllables

  • Stretch — Stretch, v. i. 1. To be extended; to be drawn out in length or in breadth, or both; to spread; to reach; as, the iron road stretches across the continent; the lake stretches over fifty square miles. [1913 Webster] As far as stretcheth any ground …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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