straightlacedとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Widely agreed to have originated (centuries ago) in homophonic confusion (in speech) of strait-laced (“tight-laced”), but long since so widely accepted and used, because having such strongly apparent analogy with straight in its senses relating to orthodoxy and conformity (compare squareness), that it can no longer accurately be called erroneous; instead it is an established alternative form with its own reanalyzed surface analysis. Compare straitjacket with *straightjacket; the latter is still usually regarded as an error, but the relationship is analogous.

形容詞

straight-laced (comparative more straight-laced or straighter-laced, superlative most straight-laced or straightest-laced)

1. Having narrow views on moral matters; prudish.
   • 1687, John Aubrey, Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme, page 20:

     Me thinks St. Augustin was too straight-laced in not liking Organs in Churches.

同意語

• tight-laced, stuffy

参照

• Oxford University Press article