Emily Dickinson Lexicon

STRIC'TURE, n. [L. strictura. See Strike and Stroke, which unite with L. stringo.]

1. A stroke; a glance; a touch. – Hale.
2. A touch of criticism; critical remark; censure. I have given myself the liberty of these strictures by way of reflection on every passage. – Hammond.
3. A drawing; a spastic or other morbid contraction of a passage of the body. – Arbuthnot.