Chaucer.
Straw is often used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as,
straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-stuffed, and the like.
Man of straw, an effigy formed by stuffing the garments of a man with
straw; hence, a fictitious person; an irresponsible person; a puppet.
-- Straw bail, worthless bail, as being given by irresponsible persons.
[Colloq. U.S.] -- Straw bid, a worthless bid; a bid for a contract
which the bidder is unable or unwilling to fulfill. [Colloq. U.S.] --
Straw cat (Zoöl.), the pampas cat. -- Straw color, the color of dry
straw, being a delicate yellow. -- Straw drain, a drain filled with
straw. -- Straw plait, or Straw plat, a strip formed by plaiting
straws, used for making hats, bonnets, etc. -- To be in the straw, to
be brought to bed, as a pregnant woman. [Slang]
Straw"ber*ry (?), n. [AS. streáwberige; streáw straw + berie berry;
perhaps from the resemblance of the runners of the plant to straws.]
(Bot.) A fragrant edible berry, of a delicious taste and commonly of a
red color, the fruit of a plant of the genus Fragaria, of which there
are many varieties. Also, the plant bearing the fruit. The common
American strawberry is Fragaria virginiana; the European, F. vesca.
There are also other less common species.
Strawberry bass. (Zoöl.) See Calico bass, under Calico. -- Strawberry
blite. (Bot.) See under Blite. -- Strawberry borer (Zoöl.), any one of
several species of insects whose larvæ burrow in the crown or roots of
the strawberry vine. Especially: (a) The root borer (Anarsia
lineatella), a very small dark gray moth whose larvæ burrow both in the
larger roots and crown, often doing great damage. (b) The crown borer
(Tyloderma fragariæ), a small brown weevil whose larva burrows in the
crown and kills the plant. -- Strawberry bush (Bot.), an American shrub
(Euonymus Americanus), a kind of spindle tree having crimson pods and
the seeds covered with a scarlet aril. -- Strawberry crab (Zoöl.), a
small European spider crab (Eurynome aspera); -- so called because the
back is covered with pink tubercles. -- Strawberry fish (Zoöl.), the
amadavat. -- Strawberry geranium (Bot.), a kind of saxifrage (Saxifraga
sarmentosa) having reniform leaves, and producing long runners like
those of the strawberry. -- Strawberry leaf. (a) The leaf of the
strawberry. (b) The symbol of the rank or estate of a duke, because the
ducal coronet is twined with strawberry leaves. "The strawberry leaves
on her chariot panels are engraved on her ladyship's heart." Thackeray.
-- Strawberry-leaf roller (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moths
whose larvæ roll up, and feed upon, the leaves of the strawberry vine;
especially, Phoxopteris fragariæ, and Eccopsis permundana. --
Strawberry moth (Zoöl.), any one of several species of moth whose larvæ
feed on the strawberry vines; as: (a) The smeared dagger (Apatela
oblinita), whose large hairy larva is velvety black with two rows of
bright yellow spots on each side. (b) A geometrid (Angerona crocataria)
which is yellow with dusky spots on the wings. Called also currant
moth. -- Strawberry pear (Bot.), the red ovoid fruit of a West Indian
plant of the genus Cereus (C. triangularia). It has a sweetish flavor,
and is slightly acid, pleasant, and cooling. Also, the plant bearing
the fruit. -- Strawberry sawfly (Zoöl.), a small black sawfly (Emphytus
maculatus) whose larva eats the leaves of the strawberry vine. --
Strawberry tomato. (Bot.) See Alkekengi. -- Strawberry tree. (Bot.) See
Arbutus. -- Strawberry vine (Bot.), the plant which yields the
strawberry. -- Strawberry worm (Zoöl.), the larva of any moth which
feeds on the strawberry vine.
Straw"board` (?), n. Pasteboard made of pulp of straw.
Straw"-col`ored (?), a. Being of a straw color. See Straw color, under
Straw, n.
Straw"-cut`ter (?), n. An instrument to cut straw for fodder.