"strait-laced"

Posted by Bob on October 25, 2001

In Reply to: "Strait-laced" posted by R. Berg on October 25, 2001

: : Both of these words appear in the song "Saint James Infirmary Blues". Any ideas on their derivation?

: The second one, "strait-laced," originally meant laced tightly, as a corset. "Strait" means "narrow" and also turns up in geographical names (Bering, Gibraltar) and "straitjacket."

Stand pat is from poker, to draw no cards (stand) with a pat (requires no additional cards) hand.