strick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ObsoleteHistorical / Technical
Quick answer
What does “strick” mean?
A bunch of hackled flax or hemp fibres prepared for spinning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bunch of hackled flax or hemp fibres prepared for spinning.
In historical textile manufacturing, a measured, prepared bundle of long fibres ready for the spinning wheel or distaff. Can also refer to the waste or broken fibres combed out in this process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning. The word was equally applicable in regions where flax/hemp processing occurred (e.g., UK, Ireland, parts of North America).
Connotations
Purely historical/technical; evokes pre-industrial or cottage-industry textile work.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both variants, found only in historical texts or very niche discussions of traditional crafts.
Grammar
How to Use “strick” in a Sentence
[Determiner] + strick + of + [Material (flax/hemp)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business.
Academic
Only in historical, textile, or economic history research.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in historical descriptions of linen/hemp production and in living history/reenactment contexts of traditional crafts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strick”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to strick something').
- Confusing it with the much more common word 'stick'.
- Assuming it is a misspelling of 'strict'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly technical, related only to historical textile production.
No, 'strick' is solely a noun. There is no standard verb form 'to strick'.
A 'strick' is the good, long, prepared fibres ready for spinning. 'Tow' refers to the shorter, broken fibres that are combed out as waste during the hackling process that creates the strick.
Most learners will never need it. It is only relevant for those reading very specific historical texts, studying the history of textiles, or engaging in traditional craft restoration.
A bunch of hackled flax or hemp fibres prepared for spinning.
Strick is usually historical / technical in register.
Strick: in British English it is pronounced /strɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /strɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'a STRIp of haCKled flax' -> STRICK. It's a specific bundle for spinning.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable due to extreme specificity and lack of contemporary usage.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'strick'?