S — Stringboard to Stroke (Part 7 of 7)

13. Appetite. [Obs.] Swift.

To keep stroke, to make strokes in unison.

The oars where silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke.

Stroke
(Stroke) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Strokeed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Strokeing.] [OE. stroken, straken, AS. stracian, fr. strican to go over, pass. See Strike, v. t., and cf. Straggle.]

1. To strike. [Obs.]

Ye mote with the plat sword again
Stroken him in the wound, and it will close.

2. To rib gently in one direction; especially, to pass the hand gently over by way of expressing kindness or tenderness; to caress; to soothe.

He dried the falling drops, and, yet more kind,
He stroked her cheeks.

3. To make smooth by rubbing. Longfellow.

4. (Masonry) To give a finely fluted surface to.

5. To row the stroke oar of; as, to stroke a boat.