Stricture
Pronunciation : Stric"ture
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. strictura a contraction, from stringere, strictum, to draw tight: cf. F. stricture. See Strict.]
Definition : 1. Strictness. [Obs.] A man of stricture and firm abstinence. Shak.
2. A stroke; a glance; a touch. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
3. A touch of adverse criticism; censure. [I have] given myself the liberty of these strictures by way of reflection on all and every passage. Hammond.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A localized morbid contraction of any passage of the body. Cf. Organic stricture, and Spasmodic stricture, under Organic, and Spasmodic. Arbuthnot.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913