Strang
In Appalachian speech, "strang" is the local pronunciation of "string." You might hear it most in gardening and kitchen talk, like a "strang of beans." But any string is a 'strang.'
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Strang' is more of an old timer way of saying it, but you'll still hear it plenty. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Strang' is more of an old timer way of saying it, but you'll still hear it plenty. Pronunciation
[STRANG]
Meaning & Usage
- String / Piece of Cord (noun)
Earl:
Hand me a strang to tie this sack shut.
Hand me a strang to tie this sack shut.- String of Beans (noun)
Ruby:
Them strangs of beans is ready for pickin’.
Them strangs of beans is ready for pickin’.variations: strang, string
★ If you hear "strang" in a mountain kitchen, it almost always means beans - snapped, strung, and ready for cookin’. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English "streng" and Scots dialect "strang" (string, cord). Early Scots-Irish settlers brought the form to Appalachia, where it stuck in rural speech.
Usage Notes
"Strang" is less common outside of rural or older speakers, but it’s a living example of how Scots-Irish roots shaped Appalachian English.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say "string" but let the vowel shift wide and drop the "i." It comes out as "strang," rhyming with "hang."