Stroke

strōk, n. a blow: a sudden attack: calamity: the sound of a clock: a dash in writing: the sweep of an oar in rowing, the aftmost oar of a boat: the movement of the piston of a steam-engine: the touch of a pen or pencil: any characteristic feature: an effective action, a feat, a masterly effort: a mental act, the action of any faculty of the mind.— v.t. and v.i. to act as stroke for, to row the stroke-oar of a boat.— n. Stroke′-oar , the aftmost oar in a boat, or its rower, whose stroke leads the rest. [A.S. strác , pa.t. of strícan , to strike.]