stramme

Stramme is a term used in Norwegian and Danish with primary meanings connected to tightening or making something taut. As a verb, stramme denotes the action of tightening or pulling something tight, such as a belt, rope, strap, or a bolt. It can also describe the act of tensing muscles or preparing equipment for use. As an adjective, related forms such as stram or stramt describe something that is tight or taut. The noun stramming refers to the act or process of tightening.

In practice, stramme appears in technical language—construction, mechanical work, textile adjustments—and in everyday speech when discussing fit and tension. Common usages include stramming screws or belts to achieve the desired tension, or describing clothing as stram if it fits tightly. The expression to stramme the situation is rendered as "to tighten up" and may imply increasing discipline or steadiness in a given context.

Etymology and cognates: Stramme belongs to the Germanic language family and has cognates in neighboring Scandinavian languages, reflecting a common concept of tightness or tension. It is less common in English, where speakers typically use separate verbs such as tighten or tense or borrow the word taut.

See also: Tightness, Tension, Tight, Strain.