strekken

Forms

strekken^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch strecken, inherited from Old Dutch *strecken, inherited from Proto-West Germanic *strakkjan, from Proto-Germanic *strakijan-, a derivative with umlaut of the stem of the adjective that gave strak, so first “to make taut”.^[2][1][3] The same verb is Middle Low German strecken (whence Swedish sträcka), Old High German strecchen (modern German strecken), Old Frisian strekka (modern West Frisian strekke) and Old English streccan (modern English stretch).^[2][3]

The Old Dutch form is reconstructed from Old French esterkir (“to set about”), recorded about 1150, which continues an older Old Dutch *strakjan with metathesis of /r/ and a prothetic /e/.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Middle Dutch strecken is first recorded in 1266 at Bruges, of plots of land die strecken na den weghe, “that stretch towards the road”.^[2][5][6] A Bruges ordinance of 1288 forbids anyone to stretch cloth in the hall where it is laid out for sale.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

In the 13th century the verb meant to stretch cloth, to stretch out a hand (1291), to lay out a body and, intransitively, to extend.^[6] By 1381 it could mean “to suffice”, of money that would last so many years, and in the 15th century “to lead to, result in”, of a crime that cost life or limb.^[2][7]

In the 16th and 17th centuries it was used of stretching on the rack (1528), of making threads taut (1638), and of things that served as something, with tot: alle deze dingen strekken tot voedsel der oogen.^[8] Winschoten's sailors' dictionary of 1681 has de kost wat strekken, to make food go further, and the coast strekt sig north and south.^[9]

The verb was borrowed into Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, from Dutch or Low German.^[10]

Timeline

• 1266 – Middle Dutch strecken “to extend” is first recorded, at Bruges.^[2][5][6]
• 1288 – A Bruges ordinance on stretching cloth.^[6][2]
• 1291 – Hi strecte sine hant, “he stretched out his hand”.^[6]
• 1381 – Strecken “to suffice”, of money.^[2]
• 1528 – Used of stretching on the rack.^[8]
• 1638 – Threads qualijc ghestrect, badly tautened.^[8]
• 1681 – De kost wat strekken, to make food go further.^[9]

Meanings

Verb

1. (transitive) To stretch, to extend as far as possible lengthwise.^[11][1][8] Hij strekte zijn armen boven zijn hoofd.^[11][1][8]
2. (intransitive) To extend, to reach; to apply to a given area.^[11][1] Het verbod strekt zich uit tot de hele provincie.^[11][1]
3. strekken tot: to serve as, to tend to.^[1][12][8]
4. (intransitive) To suffice, to last.^[1][8]

Word family

• strekking
• uitstrekken
• verstrekken
• volstrekken
• verstrekkend
• strekdam
• strekspier

Related words

• strak
• English stretch
• German strecken

Usage notes

De benen strekken is to get up and walk about a little.^[11]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ a b Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ Oudnederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; gtb.ivdnt.org
5. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
6. ^ a b c d e f Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
7. ^ Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
8. ^ a b c d e f g Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
9. ^ a b Winschoten, Wigardus à (1681), Seeman: behelsende een grondige uitlegging van de Neederlandse konst- en spreekwoorden, voor soo veel die uit de seevaart sijn ontleend, Leiden
10. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
11. ^ a b c d e Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
12. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org