Stra"tus (?), n. [L. stratus a spreading out, scattering, from
sternere, stratum, to spread.] (Meteor.) A form of clouds in which they
are arranged in a horizontal band or layer. See Cloud.
Straught (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Stretch.
Straught, v. t. To stretch; to make straight. [Written also straucht.]
[Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
Straw (?), v. t. To spread or scatter. See Strew, and Strow. Chaucer.
Straw, n. [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. streáw, from the root of E.
strew; akin to OFries. str, D. stroo, G. stroh, OHG. str, Icel. str,
Dan. straa, Sw. strå. √166. See Strew.] 1. A stalk or stem of
certain species of grain, pulse, etc., especially of wheat, rye, oats,
barley, more rarely of buckwheat, beans, and pease.
2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain, etc.;
as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw.
3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere
trifle.