King James Bible

STRAITEN, verb transitive

1. To make narrow.

In narrow circuit, straitend by a foe.

2. To contract; to confine; as, to straiten the British commerce.

3. To make tense or tight; as, to straiten a cord.

4. To distress; to perplex; to press with poverty or other necessity; as, a man straitened in his circumstances.

5. To press by want of sufficient room.

Waters when straitened, as at the falls of bridges, give a roaring noise.