Webster's English Dictionary

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strap

1. strap \'strap\ \-l*s\ n [alter. of strop, fr. ME, band or loop of 
   leather or rope, fr. OE, thong] often attrib for securing an oar; akin to 
   MHG strupfe strap; all fr. a prehistoric WGmc word borrowed fr. L struppus, 
   fr. Gk strophos twisted band; akin to Gk strephein to twist - more at 
   STROPHE 1: a band, plate, or loop of metal for binding objects together or 
   for clam ping an object in position 2a: a narrow usu. flat strip or thong 
   of a flexible material and esp. leath er used variously (as for securing, 
   holding together, or wrapping) 2b: something made of a strap forming a loop 
   {boot ~}  2c: a strip of leather used for flogging  2d: STROP  3: a shoe 
   fastened with a usu. buckled strap  Irish  4: TROLLOP  - strap.less aj
2. strap vt or strapped;  or strap.ping 1a1: to secure with or attach by 
   means of a strap  1a2: to support (as a sprained joint) with overlapping 
   strips of adhesive  plaster 1b: BIND, CONSTRICT  2: to beat or punish with 
   a strap  3: STROP