1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, v. 2. All the whole street will hate us, And the world point me out cruel.
2. (colloquial).—A capacity, a method; a line (q.v.): e.g. 'That's not in my street' = 'I am not concerned' or 'That's not my way of doing,' etc.; IN THE SAME STREET = (1) on (or under) the same conditions; and (2) equal with.
1362. Chaucer, A.B.C., 70. Than makest thou his pees with his sovereign, And bringest him out of the croked STREETE.
1900. Kennard, Right Sort, xx. Though not in the same street with King Olaf, it won't do to estimate Singing Bird's chance too lightly.
The Street, subs. phr. (old).—A centre of trade or exchange; spec. (American) Wall Street; cf. House, Lane, etc.
1612. Peter Martyr [tr. Eden, First Books on America [Arber], 186]. Common places whyther marchauntes resort as to the burse or streate.
See Grub Street; Key; Queer Street; Spin.
Street-ganger, subs. phr.
(thieves').—A beggar.
Street-hound, subs. phr, (American).—A
rough, bully, or loafer.
1872. Sacremento Weekly Union, 24 Feb., 2. Pettifoggers, polite loafers, street-hounds, hoodlums, and bummers.
Street-pitcher, subs. phr. (common).—Anyone
who stands, or
takes a pitch (q.v.), in the
streets—vendor, mendicant, etc.
Street-walker, subs. phr. (common).—1.
A harlot working on
the pavement; see Tart. Hence
street-walking = questing for
men.
2. (old).—See quot.
1618. Mynshul, Essays on a Prison (1821), 59. [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 64. He has the new substantives key-turner (turnkey) and street-walker; these are both used of jailers.]
Strength. On the strength,
phr. (colloquial: military).—On
the muster roll.
1889. Forbes [Eng. Illus. Mag., vi. 525]. The colonel had put the widow woman on the strength; she was no longer an unrecognised waif, but had her regimental position.
Streperous. See Obstreperous.
Stretch, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A
yard.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Stretch . . . The cove was lagged for prigging a peter with several stretch of dobbin from a drag.
2. (thieves').—A year; three stretch = three years' imprisonment.
1877. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. I did not fall again for a stretch. This time I got two moon for assaulting the reelers when canon.
1888. Greenwood, Undercurrents of Lond. Life. 'All right, Sam.' 'How much, Toby?' 'Three stretch,' by which the sympathetic Sam knows his friend means 'three years.'
1893. Emerson, Signor Lippo, xiv. Before you can open a paddin-ken, you must get a licence from the charpering carsey which lasts for a stretch.
1897. Marshall, Pomes, 116. I wished I'd been doing a stretch, sir, the year that we nobbled the crack.
1900. Griffiths, Fast and Loose, xix. You know me; if you don't you ought, for I got you that last stretch in Tothill Fields.
3. (orig. University: now general).—A walk. To stretch a leg (or one's legs) = to walk.
1653. Walton, Complete Angler, 43. I have stretched my legs up Tottenham Hill to overtake you.
