[f. genit. of STROKE sb. + MAN sb.1]
† 1. A rubber or masseur. Obs. rare–1.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 332, ¶ 3. Though he would not willingly detract from the Merit of that extraordinary Strokes-Man Mr. Sprightly.
2. One who pulls the stroke-oar in a boat.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Strokesman, the person who rows the hindmost oar in a boat, and gives the Stroke, which the rest are to follow.
1805. Naval Chron., XIV. 280. A shot carried away the hand of the Strokesman.
1850. H. Melville, White Jacket, I. xvii. 115. ‘Let him drown!’ cried the strokesman; ‘he’s spoiled my watch below for me.’
1868. Field, 4 July, 14/3. The steady stroke rowed by Gulston, their strokesman, was deserving of all praise.
