strai.

Uncertain, but probably from a Slavic language; cf. Polish strój (“garment, clothing, attire”), Slovene srajca (“shirt”). When entering Romanian, it may have been taken as a diminutive (cf. the form străiță), and then later evolved to its current form. Compare Aromanian stranj, stranjiu (“clothing, garment”), which may or may not be a different word (cf. however, Serbo-Croatian tranja (“rag, tatter”), which may have influenced it). Alternative proposed etymologies include Vulgar Latin root *sternium or Latin stramen (“litter”). See also Friulian straie (“bed or layer of straw for a flock”), which may have a Slovene root as well, although it has also been attributed to Latin stragulus.