STRAWN
Proper noun
Strawn (plural Strawns)
A surname.
Statistics
• According to the 2010 United States Census, Strawn is the 6373rd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 5343 individuals. Strawn is most common among White (91.86%) individuals.
Etymology
Adjective
strawn (not comparable)
Alternative spelling of strawen
Source: Wiktionary
STRAW
Straw, v. t.
Definition: To spread or scatter. See Strew, and Strow. Chaucer.
Straw, n. Etym: [OE. straw, stre, stree, AS. streáw, from the root of
E. strew; akin to OFries. stre, D. stroo, G. stroh, OHG. stro, Icel.
stra, Dan. straa, Sw. strå. *166. See Strew.]
1. A stalk or stem of certain species of grain, pulse, etc.,
especially of wheat, rye, oats, barley, more rarely of buckwheat,
beans, and pease.
2. The gathered and thrashed stalks of certain species of grain,
etc.; as, a bundle, or a load, of rye straw.
3. Anything proverbially worthless; the least possible thing; a mere
trifle.
I set not a straw by thy dreamings. Chaucer.
Note: Straw is often used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, straw-built, straw-crowned, straw-roofed, straw-
stuffed, and the like. Man of straw, an effigy formed by stuffing the
garments of a man with straw; hence, a fictitious person; an
irresponsible person; a puppet.set up a straw man; -- used in
disputation. Typically, one party accuses an opponent of setting up a
straw man, meaning that the opponent is distorting his true opinion
in order to make it look absurd.
– Straw bail, worthless bail, as being given by irresponsible
persons. [Colloq. U.S.] -- Straw bid, a worthless bid; a bid for a
contract which the bidder is unable or unwilling to fulfill. [Colloq.
U.S.] -- Straw cat (Zoöl.), the pampas cat.
– Straw color, the color of dry straw, being a delicate yellow.
– Straw drain, a drain filled with straw.
– Straw plait, or Straw plat, a strip formed by plaiting straws,
used for making hats, bonnets, etc.
– To be in the straw, to be brought to bed, as a pregnant woman.
[Slang]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition