unstrike

present singular third person unstrikes · participle present unstriking · participle past unstruck · past unstruck

1. falconryTo loosen the strings that attach the hood on the bird's head.

   I wish I could as easily unstrike The strings that keep my memories in hood, And let them down the wind.

   1870, James White, The King of the Commons

   3 more examples

   Now I unstrike, and at my whistle heard, Upcircling skyward springs my gentle bird Condemned through many centuries to search For some true Christian whereupon to perch.

   1859, Frederick William Wyon, Poems, page 92

   Either sportsman, as they reached the marshy ground, attended to the falcon on his wrist, and began to unstrike her hood.

   1876, Elizabeth Kerr Coulson, Dante and Beatrice, from 1282 to 1290, by Roxburghe Lothian

   He then stopped, turned about, and suddenly unstriking her hood, tossed her into the air with an encouraging shout.

   1965, The North American Review - Volume 68, page 217

2. To restore text that has been struck out.

   I would like to unstrike the two-thirds and leave it as is.

   1999, The National Rural Letter Carrier - Volume 98, page 668

   1 more example

   This case involves the power of the trial court to strike an answer, keep it stricken, and enter a default judgment. Woodruff tried to "unstrike" her answer by filing an amended one.

   1987, West's South Western Reporter - Volume 721, page 870

3. To cause a blow not to have occurred.

   Ye can't unspeak ane oath, or unstrike ane blow.

   1862, Hawksview; a family history, page 162

   1 more example

   Sare, you apologise at me, you shake hands to me, you beg pardon from me, but can you unstrike me?

   1834, Thomas Hood, Tylney Hall

plural unstrikes

1. A collective action by members of a trade union in which they appear at work but protest in some way such as passing out leaflets or refusing to wear a uniform.

   Starbucks courageously faced an "unstrike" by employees in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

   2002, Wayne Grytting, American Newspeak: The Mangling of Meaning for Power and Profit, →ISBN

   1 more example

   As collective bargaining was going poorly, the Union membership had approved the implementation of an "unstrike" campaign, which included a refusal to wear uniforms.

   1985, Canadian Labour Relations Boards Reports - Volume 9, page 328