vbl. sb. [-ING1.]
1. The action of STROKE v.1, in various senses.
In the 17th c. often spoken of as a process of healing.
1587. 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, trans. 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. sb.2, STREAKING vbl. sb. (after STREAK v.1), STRIPPING vbl. sb.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, R. Random, 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 Min., 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.
