strategy (n.)

"artifice, trick," especially in war, late 15c., from French strattegeme, stratagème "trick, especially to outwit an enemy" (15c.), from Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema "artifice, stratagem," from Greek strategema "the act of a general; military stratagem," from strategein "to be a general, command," from strategos "general" (see strategy). Related: Stratagematic; stratagemic; stratagemical. The second -a- is a Romanic misspelling (compare Spanish estratagema).

"pertaining to strategy, characterized by strategy," 1807, from French stratégique and directly from Latinized form of Greek stratēgikos, in classical use, "of or for a general; fitted for command," from stratēgein "be a general," from strategos "commander of an army" (see strategy).

In reference to materials essential to fighting wars, by 1958. Related: Strategical; strategically (1810). Strategetic in the same sense is by 1848, from Greek stratēgētikos "pertaining to the command of an army." Related: Strategetical.