A stroke of ‘thunder’ (cf. THUNDER sb. 1 b); the impact of a lightning-flash.
c. 1600. Chalkhill, Thealma & Cl. (1683), 5. The lofty Cedar, and the knotty Oak, Are subject more unto the thunder-stroak, Than the low shrubs.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. i. 204. They fell together … as by a Thunder-stroke.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Dead Pan, vii. At the rushing thunderstroke would No sob tremble through the tree?
b. transf. and fig.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxvi. (1592), 397. The others cutting words which are the thunderstrooks doubled.
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiii. § 4. During the first assault of passion as under a thunder-stroke the sentiments of virtue may yield for a moment.
1808. Scott, Marm., II. i. When all the loud artillery spoke, With lightning-flash, and thunder-stroke.
1880. Trevelyan, Early Hist. C. J. Fox, vi. (1910), 243. The thunder-stroke of such a confession … could not be parried.
