Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - strait

 I. adjective  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estreit, from Latin strictus ~, strict, from past participle of stringere  Date: 13th century  1. archaic strict, rigorous  2. archaic  a. narrow  b. limited in space or time  c. closely fitting ; constricted, tight  3.  a. causing distress ; difficult  b. limited as to means or resources  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun  II. adverb  Date: 13th century obsolete in a close or tight manner  III. noun  Date: 14th century  1.  a. archaic a narrow space or passage  b. a comparatively narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water — often used in plural but sing. in constr.  c. isthmus  2. a situation of perplexity or distress — often used in plural in dire ~s  Synonyms: see juncture