Stretch
/strɛtʃ/noun
To pull something so that it becomes longer or wider, or to extend one’s body or a part of it.
Did you know?Stretch is from an Old English word meaning “to spread out” or “be stretched,” and it ultimately traces back to a Germanic root tied to drawing something taut, not to any occult term despite its magical-sounding vibe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*strakkjaną
“to stretch, draw tight”
Old English
OE
streccan
“to stretch out, extend, make longer”
Middle English
ME
streccen
“to stretch, extend”
14th Century
English
stretchen
“to extend, strain, or pull out”
Modern English
English
stretch
“to pull or extend something to a greater length”