stroke

plural strokes · alternative stroak

1. An act of hitting; a blow, a hit.

   a stroke on the chin

   4 more examples

   Hee paſſed the vvhole length of Italie vvithout reſiſtance, […] He likevviſe entred and vvonne (in effect) the vvhole Kingdome of Naples it ſelfe, vvithout ſtriking ſtroke.

   1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, →OCLC, page 142

   But becauſe amongſt many ſtroaks, vvhich our eyes, eares, and other organs receive from external bodies, the predominant onely is ſenſible; therefore the light of the Sun being predominant, vve are not affected vvith the action of the ſtarrs.

   1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Imagination”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Of Man), page 5

   [A]fter the impulſive force, vvhich drove them upvvard, grevv languid, nor vvas there any other ſtroak, vvhich might toſſe them that vvay, the Atoms themſelves, endeavouring to go dovvn again, met vvith obſacles from others, vvhereupon they flevv about vvith greater activity, […]

   1659–1660, Thomas Stanley, “[Epicurus: The Second Part of Philosophy.] Chap[ter] IV. Of the Generation of the World.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Third and Last Volume, […], volume III, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC, 5th part (Containing the Epicurean Sect), section II (Of the World), page 171

   With many a wanton stroke / Her feet disperse the powd'ry snow / That rises up like smoke.

   1799 (date written), W[illiam] Wordsworth, “Lucy Gray”, in Lyrical Ballads, with Other Poems. […], 2nd edition, London: […] T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Co., […], published 1800, →OCLC, page 65

   Synonyms: beat, dash

   1. An act of striking with a weapon; a blow.

      Singapore plans to cane scammers and scam mules, with mandatory caning of at least six strokes for scammers and discretionary caning for mules.

      5 more examples

      Their mightie ſtrokes their haberieons diſmayld, / And naked made each others manly ſpalles; […]

      1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30, page 265

      No Perſon vvas puniſhed by Bonds, Strokes, or Death, vvithout the Judgment and Sentence of the Druids: […]

      1695, William Temple, An Introduction to the History of England, London: […] Richard Simpson […], and Ralph Simpson […], →OCLC, page 13

      Side by side they fought (the Lucies / Were a line for valour fam'd) / And where'er their strokes alighted / There the Saracens were tam'd.

      1806, William Wordsworth, “The Horn of Egremont Castle”, in Poems, in Two Volumes, volume I, London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], published 1807, →OCLC, page 40

      When this idea intruded on the train of romantic visions which agitated him, it was like the sharp stroke of the harpoon, which awakens the whale from torpidity into violent action.

      1829 May 2, [Walter Scott], chapter VIII, in Anne of Geierstein; or, The Maiden of the Mist. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Company] for Cadell and Co., […]; London: Simpkin and Marshall, […], →OCLC, page 226

      The men who held the ropes were French soldiers, and by broken Italian phrases and strokes from the knotted end of a rope, they from time to time stimulated their prisoners to beg.

      1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “The Prisoners”, in Romola. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book II, page 21

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   2. A single movement with a tool; also, an impact of a tool on an object.

      But now no stroke of woodman / Is heard by Auser's rill; […]

      1834–1838 (date written), Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Horatius”, in Lays of Ancient Rome, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], published 1842, →OCLC, stanza 7, page 49

      2 more examples

      [W]hen a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor, to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a ſtroke with the axe to cut downe the tree, and the head ſlippeth from the helue, and lighteth vpon his neighbour that he die, he ſhall flee vnto one of thoſe cities, and liue: […]

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 19:5, column 2

      VVith lifted Arms they order ev'ry Blovv, / And chime their ſounding Hammers in a Rovv; / VVith ſtrokes of Anvils Ætna groans belovv.

      1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 129, lines 253–255

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   3. The hitting of a bell or similar by the clapper or hammer of a clock; the sound thereof; the time when this occurs.

      on the stroke of midnight

      2 more examples

      Expect the second [ghost] on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!

      1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 35

      Already guarding a 1–0 lead from the first leg, Blackpool inched further ahead when Stephen Dobbie scored from an acute angle on the stroke of half-time. The game appeared to be completely beyond Birmingham's reach three minutes into the second period when Matt Phillips reacted quickly to bundle the ball past Colin Doyle and off a post.

      2012 May 9, John Percy, “Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2–3 on agg[regate]): match report”, in Tony Gallagher, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Jul 2021

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   4. ball gamesThe action of hitting the ball with the bat; a shot.

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   5. ball gamesA single act of striking at the ball with a club; also, at matchplay, a shot deducted from a player's score at a hole as a result of a handicapping system.

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   6. ball gamesA point awarded to a player in case of interference or obstruction by the opponent.

      Synonyms: beat, dash

   7. ball gamesThe hitting of a ball with a racket; also, the movement of the racket and arm that produces that impact.

      Synonyms: beat, dash

2. A movement similar to that of hitting.
   1. One of a series of beats or movements against a resisting medium, by means of which movement through or upon it is accomplished.

      the stroke of a bird’s wing in flying

   2. hobbiesThe movement of an oar or paddle through water: either the cycle of movement as a whole, or the propelling phase (as opposed to the return); the manner in which such movements are made; a rowing style.
   3. broadlyhobbiesThe rower nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose oar sets the rhythm for the other rowers; the position in the boat occupied by this rower.
   4. hobbiesA movement of the arms and legs which propels a swimmer through the water; a specific combination of such movements, constituting a swimming style.

      butterfly stroke

      1 more example

      Old Applegate, in the stern, just set and looked at me, and Lord James, amidship, waved both arms and kept hollering for help. I took a couple of everlasting big strokes and managed to grab hold of the skiff's rail, close to the stern.

      1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, pages 165–166

   5. A beat or throb, as of the heart or pulse.

      [I]n true marriage lies / Nor equal, nor unequal: each fulfils / Defect in each, and always thought in thought, / Purpose in purpose, will in will, they grow, / The single pure and perfect animal, / The two-cell'd heart beating, with one full stroke / Life.

      1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part VI”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 157

      Synonyms: pulsation

   6. engineeringA single movement or thrust of a reciprocating device (such as a piston or connecting rod).

      For the pistons of a four-stroke engine, the exhaust stroke follows the power stroke.

   7. The length of this movement.

      The bore times the stroke times the number of cylinders equals displacement.

   8. A thrust of the penis during sexual intercourse.
3. figurativelyAn act causing hurt or death, especially when seen as divine punishment.

   the stroke of death

   5 more examples

   The stroke of God, Aduersyte I hyght; / I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde, and knyght, / I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, / And in theyr moste truste i make them ouerthrowe.

   a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Magnyfycence, a Goodly Interlude and a Mery, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 287, lines 1908–1911

   Sheele make you ſhrinke as I did, vvith a ſtroke / But of her eye Tigranes.

   1612 January 5 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Francis Beaumont, Iohn Fletcher, A King and No King. […], London: […] [John Beale] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1619, →OCLC, Act I, page 4

   So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour ſent, / And th' inſtant ſtroke of Death denounc'd that day / Remov'd farr off; […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 470–471

   [H]ovv the royal Bard did groaning lye, / Beneath the ſtroke of Heaven's avenging ire; […]

   1785–1786 (date written; published 1786), Robert Burns, “The Cotter’s Saturday Night”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, 2nd edition, volume II, Edinburgh: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], and William Creech, […], published 1793, →OCLC, stanza XIV, page 12

   The Professor, treating the murderous assault upon him by Juan Manuel Harispe very lightly, and regarding it simply as a significant point d'arrêt to his gallantries towards Manuelita, not to be passed over in its portents any more than the first stroke of disease which attacks thrice before it kills, limited his arrangement of precautionary measures to giving Señor Harispe, his niece, and his establishment a very wide berth; […]

   1860, George Augustus Sala, “Philip Leslie”, in The Baddington Peerage: Who Won, and Who Wore It. A Story of the Best and the Worst Society. […], volume I, London: Charles J. Skeet, […], →OCLC, page 306

4. figurativelyA damaging occurrence, especially if sudden; a blow, a calamity.

   Tom's whole soul was filled with thoughts of eternity; and while he ministered around the lifeless clay, he did not once think that the sudden stroke had left him in hopeless slavery.

   1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The Unprotected”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 145

   2 more examples

   The Abp. [Archbishop] of York [John Dolben] now died of yᵉ small pox, aged 62, a corpulent man. […] I looke on this as a greate stroke to yᵉ poore Church of England, now in this defecting period.

   1686 April 24 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 15 April 1686]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 626

   T'encreaſe this load, ſome ſycophant-report / Deſtroy'd his int'reſt and good grace at court. / At this one ſtroke the man look'd dead in lavv: / His flatt'rers ſcamper, and his friends vvithdravv.

   1767, [Walter Harte], “Eulogius: Or, The Charitable Mason”, in The Amaranth: Or, Religious Poems; […], London: […] Mess. Robinson and Roberts, […]; and W. Frederick, […], →OCLC, page 200

5. figurativelyAn amount of work; specifically, a large amount of business or work.

   a stroke of business

   1 more example

   ["]But I'm gwine, Mas'r George,—gwine to have four dollars a week; and Missis is gwine to lay it all up, to buy back my old man agin!" / "Whew!" said George, "here's a stroke of business, to be sure! How are you going [to Louisville]?"

   1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Kentuck”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 59

6. figurativelyA powerful or sudden effort by which something is done or produced; also, something accomplished by such an effort; an achievement, a feat.

   a stroke of genius

7. figurativelyA single movement of a paintbrush, chisel, pen, pencil, or similar implement; a line or mark made by such an implement.

   Among other branches of ſcience, if one can call it ſo, Mr. [John] Evelyn ſtudied Phyſiognomy, and found diſſimulation, boldneſs, cruelty and ambition in every touch and ſtroke of [Isaac] Fuller's picture of Oliver Cromvvell's face, vvhich he ſays, vvas the moſt reſembling portrait of the Protector.

   1762, Horace Walpole, “Painters and Other Artists in the Reign of James I”, in Anecdotes of Painting in England; […], volume II, London: […] Thomas Farmer […], →OCLC, footnote †, page 38

   1. figurativelyartsA line making up a written character.
   2. figurativelycomputingIn Unicode: the formal name of the individual horizontal strikethroughs (as in "A̶").
   3. CommonwealthIrelandUKfigurativelymediaThe oblique, slash, or virgule ("/").

      Subject: Fire. Dear Sir-stroke-Madam: I am writing to inform you of a fire which has broken out at the premises of … No. That's too formal.

      2006 February 3, Graham Linehan, “Calamity Jen”, in The IT Crowd, season 1, episode 2

8. figurativelyA distinctive expression in a written composition; a touch.First known use 17th c.

   to give some finishing strokes to an essay

9. archaicfigurativelyInfluence; power.

   Just somebody with a low lottery number, not enough stroke to get in the National Guard, and a distaste for tropical climates.

   1993, Dana Stabenow, chapter 5, in A Fatal Thaw (A Kate Shugak Mystery), Hampton Falls, N.H.: Beeler Large Print, Thomas T. Beeler, published 2002, →ISBN, page 78

   3 more examples

   [W]here ſoeuer poſſeſſyons be pryuate, where moneye beareth all the ſtroke, it is hard and almoſte impoſſyble that there the weale publyque maye iuſtelye be gouerned and proſperouſlye floryſhe: […]

   1551, Thomas More, “The Fyrste Boke of the Communycacion of Raphaell Hythlodaye Concernynge the Best State of a Commen Wealthe”, in Raphe Robynson [i.e., Ralph Robinson], transl., A Fruteful, and Pleasaunt Worke of the Best State of a Publyque Weale, and of the Newe Yle Called Utopia: […], London: […] [Steven Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, […], →OCLC

   Theſame Alexander, be auiſed and coũſailed, that he ſhould winne and make frendes vnto him, all ſuche perſones both honeſt and vnhoneſt, good and badde, as beare any rule, ſtroke or autoritte, in the commen weale, and that the good men he ſhould vſe, and the euil perſones he ſhould abuſe, that is to ſaie, applie to ſome good vſe, that of theimſelfes they are not apte nor inclined vnto.

   1564 February, Erasmus, “The Saiynges of Philippus Kyng of Macedonie”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], transl., Apophthegmes, that is to Saie, Prompte, Quicke, Wittie and Sentẽcious Saiynges, […], London: […] Ihon Kingston, →OCLC, book II, folio 122, recto, paragraph 16

   For I find by Experience he has a great Stroke vvith the Reader, vvhen he condemns any of my Poems to make the VVorld have a better Opinion of them.

   1700, [John] Dryden, “Preface”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1. archaicfigurativelygovernmentBackstage influence.
10. figurativelyturn-based gamesA masterful or effective action.

    To enable any other piece to effect the decisive stroke, a greater number of facilities, arising either from the coöperation of partisans, or the obstruction of the adverse king by his own pieces, must conspire in proportion to the assailant's class.

    1817, François-André Danican Philidor (translated), Studies of Chess, Samuel Bagster, page 106

    1 more example

    Black gives the opponent and opportunity for a beautiful combination stroke. But his game was anyhow very bad already, for in answer to QR—R sq., which was about his only other alternative, White would have replied Kt—R5 with an irresistible attack.

    1889, Wilhelm Steinitz, The Modern Chess Instructor, G. P. Putnam's sons, page 29

    Synonyms: masterstroke

11. medicineA sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, causing minor to major brain damage and possible death; it may be either hemorrhagic or thrombotic.

    suffer a stroke

    Synonyms: cerebrovascular accident, CVA

12. sciencesAn individual discharge of lightning, particularly if causing damage.

    A flash of lightning may be made up of several strokes. If they are separated by enough time for the eye to distinguish them, the lightning will appear to flicker.

13. An individual social interaction whereby one gives another attention or recognition.

    Being gay and in prison is a very lonely experience. I would like to get some gay contacts on the outside that could give me some positive strokes.

    1980 April 5, Charles E. Skinner, “Personal Advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 15

14. obsoleteThe effect or result of a striking; affliction or injury; a bruise or wound; soreness.

    Moreover the light of the Moone ſhalbe as the light of the Sunne, and the light of the Sunne ſhall be ſeuenfold, as the light of ſeuen dayes, in the day that the Lord bindeth vp the breach of his people, and healeth the ſtroke of their wound.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 30:26, column 2

15. obsoleteChiefly in to have a good stroke: appetite.

    It was said of him that he had a good stroke which simply meant in the everyday idiom of the place that he was possessed of a healthy appetite.

    1995, John B[rendan] Keane, “Something Drastic”, in The Voice of an Angel and Other Christmas Stories, Dublin: Mercier Press, →ISBN, page 88

    4 more examples

    [N]either can any man be entertain'd as a Soldier, that has not a greater ſtroke than ordinary at eating: for by this they judge of his ſtrength and conſtitution.

    1699, William Dampier, “Of the Government of Tonquin. […]”, in Voyages and Descriptions. Vol. II. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], →OCLC, part I (His Voyage from Achin in Sumatra, to Tonquin, […]), page 71

    Lady Answ[erall]. God bleſs you, Colonel; you have a good Stroke vvith you. / Col[onel Atwit]. O Madam; formerly I could eat all, but novv I leave nothing; I eat but one Meal a Day.

    1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “Dialogue II”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page 150

    Rooks are said to be fattest when food is scarcest, as they "owereat thorsels" when they have too much food. The same is said of lean children who have a good stroke (appetite).

    1893–1894, Oliver Heslop, “OWEREAT”, in Northumberland Words: A Glossary of Words Used in the County of Northumberland and on the Tyneside, volume II, London: For the English Dialect Society by Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, […], →OCLC, page 518

    It distressed him, Joe said, to see them feeding like animals, without delicacy. Joe had a good stroke himself, but naturally not as good an appetite as he would have if he was doing anything.

    a. 1968 (date written), Walter Macken, “The Dreamer”, in The Grass of the People, Dingle, Co. Kerry: Brandon, published 1998, →ISBN, page 212

16. obsoletemedicineA sudden attack of any illness, especially if causing loss of consciousness or movement, or when fatal.

    a stroke of apoplexy

17. obsoleteentertainmentA bow or pluck of a string or strings of a stringed instrument; also, the manner in which a musical instrument is played; hence, a melody, a tune.

    Or can he desire a nobler or a fuller Argument either for the softest Aires or the loudest Echoes, for the smoothest or briskest strokes of his Pindaric Lyre?

    1667 March 21 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Epistolary Correspondence.] To Abraham Cowley, Esq.”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, part I, page 175

present singular third person strokes · participle present stroking · participle past stroked · past stroked

1. transitiveTo draw the horizontal line across the upright part (of the letter t).
2. transitiveFollowed by out or through: to draw a line or lines through (text) to indicate that it is deleted; to cancel, to strike or strike out.
3. poeticraretransitiveOf a bell or clock: to chime or sound to indicate (the hour, the time, etc.).
4. raretransitiveTo mark (something) with lines or stripes; to stripe.
5. transitiveball gamesTo hit or kick (the ball) with a flowing or smooth motion; also, to score (a goal, a point, etc.) by doing so.
6. transitivehobbiesOf a rower or a crew: to row at (a rate of a certain number of strokes (“movements of the oar through water”) per minute).
7. transitivehobbiesTo act as the stroke (“rower who is nearest the stern of the boat, the movement of whose oar sets the rowing rhythm for the other rowers”) of (a boat or its crew).

   to stroke a boat

8. transitivehobbiesTo strike (the water) with one's arms and legs when swimming.
9. transitiveautomotiveTo lengthen the stroke of (an engine) by installing a crankshaft with longer throws.

   Yes, it's 'only' a small block, but it’s got some tricks up its sleeve — it's been bored, stroked, ported, polished, and fuel-injected.

10. obsoletetransitiveTo depict (something) with a paintbrush.
11. intransitivemedicineChiefly followed by out: to suffer loss of brain function when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted; to have a stroke (noun sense 4).
12. intransitivehobbiesTo swim by making co-ordinated movements with the arms and legs.

present singular third person strokes · participle present stroking · participle past stroked · past stroked · first person past singular stroked · archaic present second person singular strokest · past second person singular stroked · archaic past second person singular strokedst · present singular third person strokes · archaic present singular third person stroketh · past singular third person stroked · past plural stroked · past subjunctive stroked · participle present stroking · participle past stroked

1. transitiveTo move one's hand or an object (such as a broom or brush) along (a surface) in one direction, touching it lightly; to caress.

   It [the guinea pig] ſtrokes its head vvith the fore feet like the rabbit; and, like it, ſits upon the hind feet; […]

   1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of Animals of the Hare Kind. [The Guinea-pig.]”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume IV, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse, […], →OCLC, page 53

   4 more examples

   His Majestie began first to touch for yᵉ evil, according to custome, thus: his Maᵗⁱᵉ sitting under his State in yᵉ Banquetting House, the Chirurgeons cause the sick to be brought or led up to the throne, where they kneeling, yᵉ King strokes their faces or cheekes with both his hands at once, at which instant a Chaplaine in his formalities says, "He put his hands upon them and he healed them."

   1660 July 15 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 6 July 1660]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, pages 323–324

   The tender Sire, vvho ſavv her bluſh, and cry, / Aſcrib'd it all to Maiden-modeſty, / And dry'd the falling Drops, and yet more kind, / He ſtroak'd her Cheeks, and holy Kiſſes join'd.

   1700, [John] Dryden, “Cinyras and Myrrha, out of the Tenth Book of Ovid’s Metamorphosis”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 177

   The gravity and firmneſs of the mind is conſpicuous in his outvvard demeanor: his ſpeech is ſlovv, vveighty, and conciſe, he is ſeldom provoked to laughter, his only geſture is that of ſtroking his beard, the venerable ſymbol of manhood; and the ſenſe of his ovvn importance teaches him to accoſt his equals vvithout levity, and his ſuperiors vvithout avve.

   1788, Edward Gibbon, “Description of Arabia and Its Inhabitants. […]”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume V, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 183

   Softly she stroked the carpet with the palms of her hands. "Happy carpet!" she crooned. "Aye, happy the very women that wove the threads that are trod by the feet of my beloved master.[…]"

   1911 October 26, Max Beerbohm, chapter XVI, in Zuleika Dobson, or, An Oxford Love Story, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1912, →OCLC, page 248

   1. broadlyintransitivetransitiveuncommonvulgarTo masturbate.

      Synonyms: beat off, rub one out, abuse, bash one out, bate, beat it, beat off, crank one out

2. alsofigurativelytransitiveTo bring (something) to a certain condition by stroking (sense 1).
3. especiallyfigurativelytransitivehuman sciencesTo give assurance to (someone) through encouragement.

   [W]hen thou cam'ſt firſt / Thou ſtroakſt me, & made much of me: […]

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 4, column 2

4. USbroadlyfigurativelytransitivegovernmentTo influence (someone) by convincing or flattering them.

   Synonyms: jolly, lay it on thick, puff, blandander, blandish, butter up, cajole, sweeten

5. transitiveagricultureTo milk (a cow or other animal); especially, to squeeze the teat of (a cow, etc.) to extract the last bit of milk from the udder; to strap (dialectal), to strip.
6. transitivebusinessTo give a finely fluted surface to (stone) by carving it with a tool.
7. obsoletetransitiveTo sharpen (a knife or other cutting instrument) by honing or rubbing it against a surface.
8. figurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo soothe (someone); also, to flatter or indulge (someone).

plural strokes

1. transitiveAn act of moving one's hand or an object along a surface in one direction, touching it lightly; a caress.

   She gave the cat a stroke.

2. figurativelytransitiveA gesture of assurance given as encouragement; specifically (psychoanalysis) in transactional analysis: a (generally positive) reaction expressed to a person which fulfils their desires or needs.

   Not providing a stroke to a client can sometimes facilitate the client in becoming aware of their neediness or desire for approval. By not giving a stroke, the client's need is brought to the surface, where it is amenable to change, […]

   2009, Mark Widdowson, Transactional Analysis: 100 Key Points and Techniques, page 246

3. USfigurativelytransitiveA flattering or friendly act, comment, etc., done or made to a person to influence them.