stroking, vbl. n.
(ˈstrəʊkɪŋ)
[-ing1.]
1. The action of stroke v.1, in various senses.
In the 17th c. often spoken of as a process of healing.
| 1587 L. Mascall Govt. Cattle, Sheepe (1627) 206 Yee shall draw the Ewe a little, which the Heard men doe call stroking. 1626 Sandys Ovid's Met. x. 198 A Stag..who..well pleas'd, would stand The gentle strokings of a stranger's hand. 1632 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena To Rdr. (b) 1, I expect not the least stroaking of applause. 1633 Wotton Lett. (1907) II. 343 The manner of his cure..is somewhat strange; he useth no bindings, but oils and strokings. 1666 H. Stubbe Mirac. Conformist Ep. Ded. 2 Upon his first stroaking the Patient should be worse, and cured by a second. 1713 Gay Rural Sports 94 When the big udder'd Cows with Patience stand, Waiting the Stroakings of the Damsel's Hand. 1842 Gwilt Archit. §1910 This operation produces a sort of fluted surface, and is called stroking. 1880 [Mrs. Floyer] Plain Hints Needlework 19 The stroking should be done above the gathering thread, as well as below. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 489 A more or less forcible stroking of the skin with a pointed instrument. |
2. pl. The last milk drawn from a cow; ‘afterings’. Cf. strapping vbl. n.2, streaking vbl. n. (after streak v.1), stripping vbl. n.2 b.
| 1602 Entert. Harefield in Lyly's Wks. (1902) I. 492 You shall haue..stroakings, in good faith, redd cowes milk. 1658 Compl. Cook 76 Take a Gallon of Stroakings and a Pint of Creame as it comes from the Cow. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. xl, The cook entertained me with choice bits, the dairy-maid with stroakings. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 913 The afterings or strokings are well known to be the richest part of the milk. |
3. Comb.: † stroking needle [G. streichnadel], a touch-needle (see touch-); stroking pin, a pin used to stroke gathers.
| 1683 Pettus Fleta Minor i. i. i. 3 How..to make stroking or touching Needles, or Ingots of Silver for distinguishing the fine from the less fine Silver. 1880 [Mrs. Floyer] Plain Hints Needlework 46, 1 stroking pin. |