Strap
- This article is related to BDSM
A strap, sometimes also called strop, is an elongated flap or ribbon, usually of tearproof fabric, plastic or leather.
Word Origins
"Strop" is the older form of strap, recorded since 1357 as loop or strap on a harness; strap appeared only since 1620 as a Scottish and/or nautical variant of 'strope.' The word "strop" probably derives from the Old French estrop, itself from the Latin stroppus "strap, band," perhaps from Etruscan, ultimately from Greek strophos "twisted band," from strephein "to turn".
Strap - BDSM
A strap is a straight length of leather, plastic or tearproof fabric, usually between half an inch and two and a half inches wide, similar to a belt, but usually shorter and designed for some other purpose than to be worn around the waist. In the context of BDSM, straps can be used both for bondage and punishment. Straps are a useful tool for bondage as they can be quickly tightened and secured and the broad width of the strap has less of a tendancy to cut off the circulation than rope might. The disadvantages of straps is that they can slide down limbs thus making the bondage less effective. Strapping is often used with various types of furniture to secure the victim.
Another typs of strap used for bondage is the ratchet strap. Ratchet straps are made from webbing and use a small leaver and ratchet to tighten the strap. They have the advantage over buckle type straps in that they have an unlimited range of positions they can be tightened to, allowing for precise control of the tension of the strap. Ratchet straps come in a wide variety of colours and can be sourced without difficulty on the web.
Binding straps
Thin straps are used as part of clothing or baggage, or bedding such as a sleeping bag. A strap differs from a belt mainly in that a strap is usually integral to the item of clothing; either can be used in combination with buckles.
Straps are also used as fasteners to attach and bind items, to objects, animals (for example a saddle on a horse) and people, or even to tie down people and animals, as on an apparatus for corporal punishment. Occasionally a strap is specified after what it binds or holds, e.g. chin strap.
Disciplinary strapping
As an implement of severe physical punishment, which is then called strapping after it (alongside more general terms as lashing, and confusingly, even in some official language, words like belting -in principle a belt is lighter, without a handle-, whipping and even paddling, all strictly speaking reserved for other implements), it is a particularly, broad and heavy strip of leather whipping device often with a hard handle while the more flexible 'blade' whips the flesh of the victim. Probably because of the stiffness the word is sometimes used interchangeably with a leather paddle. Instead of having one specially made one can also, especially in a private sphere, use an object of the same stirrup leather, say in a stable; like the Scottish tawse (which is a forked version with two or more tails) both are likely to be suppllied by a saddlemaker.
- The real thing, usually made for institutional use, is also known as prison strap because it was mainly used on adult convicts (for discipline within the prison system, or as an original judicial corporal punishment, often combined with prison time, imposed by court but carried out by prison staff), notably in the USA (mainly the South, e.g. Arkansas at least until 1967; sometimes a spanking inflicted on the trousers, sometimes bare bottom; also used on the back) and Canada (until 1972; a spanking on the bare buttocks or stark naked), but also on minors in reformatories (on the trousers seat or on the bare buttocks) and in schools (particularly in Canada, on the hand, still reported in 2000).
- Because of the forceful impact it makes, which can easily knock the recipient out of balance and fall over (reported by strapped punishees who were ordered to take it while grabbing their ankles), the victim is usually supported in a bending or lying position, often tied down, e.g. over a table or punishment horse, or against a whipping post.
- Like the holed paddle, there is a version with holes in it, which intentionally increases the risk and severity of blistering if administered on the bare skin.
Razor strop
In origin the word strop (see picture above, right) is simply an alternative form of strap, but it is now mainly used in the sense of a flexible rectangular piece of leather or canvas used for sharpening a razor, also known as a razor strop.
It may be in the form of a hanging belt or a hand-held paddle. In both cases, as the names suggest, it makes a dreaded implement for punitive use (e.g. spanking), especially if made of leather, like a tawse; antique razor strops are generally heavier.
Other uses
- In nautical usage a strap is a short rope (or cable) with two loops at both ends, forming an eight without crossing itself because a seizing holds the two loops together. The rope is wound around a tackle whereas one of the loops is hung on a hook, in the other loop is the tackle.
- Strap is also a street slang term for a gun.
Verbs
- The derived verb to strap means to use or apply a strap, such as to bind something (as with rope or string) or to inflict a disciplinary strapping
- The derived verb to strop means to use or apply a (razor) strop
Sources and References and External links
- article in three linking parts on Canadian prison strappings; various other material concerning strapping on this website on corporal punishment, use search etc.
- [1]
- there different types of strops?_Straight_razor_care at premiumknives.com
See also Thong
| List of Spanking Implements |
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See "sting and thud" for more on this distinction. |
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