stricture

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
stricture /ˈstrɪktʃə/

▶noun

• 1 a rule restricting behaviour or action.

• 2 a sternly critical remark.

• 3 Medicine abnormal narrowing of a canal or duct in the body.

– derivatives
strictured adjective.

– origin ME: from L. strictura, from stringere (see strict).