Strike v.

Pa. t. struck; pa. pple. struck; also arch. stricken. Forms: Inf. and Pres. stem. 1 strícan, 3–7 strik, 4–6 stryke, 4–7 stryk, 4 Sc. stirk(e, 5–7 stricke, 6 stryck(e, 6–8 strick, 7 Sc. streck, 3– strike. Pa. t. sing. α. 1 strác, 2–3 strac, 3–5, 6–8 Sc. strak, 7 Sc. strack, 4–8 strake, 5 straak, 5–6 Sc. straik, 6 Sc. strayk; β. 4–7 strok, stroke, 5 strocke, 5–7 stroak(e, 5–9 strook, 6–7 strooke, 6 stroock, stroucke, Sc. struke, struik(e, 7 strucke, 7– struck; γ. 4 strek, 5 streke; δ. 7 stricke; ε. weak forms 4 striked, 4–6 stryked, 6 stryckt. Pa. t. pl. 1 stricon, 2–3 striken. Pa. pple. α. 1 stricen, 4 strikyn, 4–6 stryken, -yn, (4 -yne), 4–7 striken, 5 strikon, strynken (sic), strikyne, Sc. strikine, 5–6 strikin, strykin, 6 strykowen, stirkin, north. streikenne, Sc. strakin, 7 strake; β. 4 y-strike, 3–4 strike, 5 stryke; γ. 4 Sc. strekine, 4–6 streken, 5–6 strekyn(e, (5 stregun), 6 strek(k)in; δ. 5 strikkyn, stryckyn, 5–6 strikken, -in, 6 ystricken (arch.), strycken, strickin, -yn, 6– stricken; ε. 6 strycke, stricke; ζ. 5 Sc. strukkin, 6 Sc. struiken, stru(c)kne, strukin, strukned, strokin, 6–7 stroken, strooken, struken, strocken, 6 strockin), 7 stroaken, stroocken, 6–9 strucken, (6 -in); 6–7 stroke, strook(e, 6 strock, 7 stroake, strucke, 7– struck; η. 4–6 striked, 5 stryked. [A Com. WGer. strong verb: OE. strícan, pa. t. strác, pl. stricon, pa. pple. stricen, corresponds to OFris. strîka, MLG. strîken, (M)Du. strijken, OHG. strîhhan (MHG. strîchen, mod.G. streichen str. vb.; the weak vb. streichen corresponds to STROKE v.) to pass lightly over a surface, to go, rove, wander, to stroke, rub, beat, f. OTeut. *strīk- (: *straik-: *strik-; for examples of these grades of the root see STROKE sb., STREAK sb., STRICKLE):—Indogermanic *streig- (: *stroig-: *strig-) found in L. stringĕre to touch lightly, graze (radically distinct from stringĕre to bind, tighten), strigilis STRIGIL, OSl. strigą I shear (Russ. стригу strigu, inf. стричь stričⁱ).

  A distinct, but prob. ultimately connected root of similar meaning, OTeut. *streuk- (: *strauk-: *struk-):—Indogermanic *streug-: *stroug-: *strug-, is found in ON. striúka str. vb. (Sw. stryka, Da. stryge) to stroke, rub, OHG. strûhhôn, strûhhên (MHG. strûchen) to strike against something, stumble. It has been suggested by Hirt that the parallel roots may have arisen from ablaut modification of an original *streyeweg.]

  I.  1. intr. To make one’s way, go. In early use chiefly poet. In later use, chiefly with adv. (forth, forward, over) or phrase indicating the direction. Obs. exc. arch.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 14804. & Godess follc strac inn anan Uppo þe driȝȝe sandess, To flen fra Faraon þe king.

c. 1205.  Lay., 9318. Hamun him to strac.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 732. Comen alle strikinde, þe strengest te swiðest of eauer euch strete.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 67. Twei stokkes þer stondeþ but stunt þou not þere,… stryk forþ bi hem boþe. Ibid. (1377), B. Prol. 183. A mous … Stroke forth sternly and stode biforn hem alle.

a. 1400.  King & Hermit, 83. Ȝyff i stryke into a pytte, Hors and man myȝht spylle.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex. (Dubl.), 826*. To poliponenses hase he passed … And so was strykyn or he styntyd in-to þe strange realm.

a. 1440.  Sir Degrev., 1640. The stede stert over a fosse And strykys astray.

c. 1460.  Vrbanitatis, 49, in Babees Bk. To be beste morselle þou may not stryke Thowȝ þou neuur so welle hit lyke.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 66. Neuertheles he … stryked forth thurgh alle the folke til he cam in to the place where the Kynge him self was.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Luke viii. 22. And he went vp into a boate, and his disciples, and he said to them, Let vs strike ouer the lake.

1599.  George a Greene, IV. iv. 951. George. But what are these come trasing here along? Bettris. Three men come striking through the corne, My loue.

1608.  Willet, Hexapla Exod., x. 13. 118. [It was extraordinary] for them [sc. locusts] … to come in the spring,… whereas they vsually do strike ouer into other countries in haruest.

1641.  Tatham, Distracted State, IV. i. (1651), 20. When you have done the Deed Strike towards the Back stairs.

1699.  Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1714), Journ. to Euphrates, 4. Their way to cross is, by drawing up the Boat … and then with wretched Oars stricking over.

1883.  Stevenson, Silverado Sq. (1886), 43. The Jews were not long of striking forward.

  † b.  of inanimate things. Also with up. Obs.

a. 1000.  Boeth. Metr., xx. 140. [Se rodor] striceð ymbutan [i.e., revolves round the earth] ufane & neoðane, efenneah ʓehwæþer.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 59. Ha bigon to broken al as þat istelede irn strac hire in ouer al.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 125. Al songe to loue þat gay Iuelle, Þe steuen moȝt stryke þurȝ þe vrþe to helle.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1415. Strykis vp of þe stoure stanes of engynes.

1456.  Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 26. The reik that strake vp in the aire.

  † c.  Of a stream (of water, blood, tears): To run, flow. Also with down, adown. Obs.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2479. & strikeð a stream ut of þat stanene þruh þat ha in resteð.

a. 1225.  St. Marher., 5. The let blod barst ut ant strac adun of hire bodi.

a. 1240.  Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 189. Þe ilke fif wallen þet of þi blisfulle bodi sprungen and strike dun strondes of blod.

c. 1320.  Castel of Love, 729. A welle … Wiþ foure stremes þat strikeþ wel, And erneþ vppon þe grauel.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 222 (Corpus MS.). His salte teeres stryked doun as reyn.

a. 1450.  Octavian (Camb. MS.), 426. A welle feyre welle there they sye Come strykyng ouyr a stone.

  † d.  In immaterial sense: To go, pass (into a condition). Obs.

  To be stricken in years: see STRICKEN pa. pple. and ppl. a.

c. 1350.  Will Palerne, 2981. Þere þat semli ladi … strek in-to a styf studie of hire sterne sweuen. Ibid., 4038.

  2.  To proceed in a new direction; to make an excursion; to turn in one’s journey across, down, over, into, to, etc. Also with aside, in, off, out.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 202. To avoid them, we strucke out of the way.

1669.  N. Morton, New Eng. Mem. (1910), 32. They recovered themselves, and having the flood with them, struck into the harbour.

1681.  R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, 162. We left the Road, and struck into the Woods.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 3. Here we began to drop the rest of our Company, some striking East for the Streights.

1700.  S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 230. A French Privateer came up the English Road, and passed by our Fleet, narrowly viewing it, and struck in to Sea again.

1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem., I. 20. Let us strike down that Walk, and it brings us to the Palace.

1711.  Swift, Jrnl. Stella, 7 July. It began raining, and I struck into Mrs. Vanhomrigh’s, and dined.

1785.  Miss Fielding, Ophelia, II. xvii. I should … go … into Oxfordshire, and then strike into the western road.

1845.  Darwin, Voy. Nat., xiv. (1879), 294. At Chonchi we struck across the island, following intricate winding paths.

1872.  Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 106. When the wall begins to descend, strike to the right along a green path.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, x. 144. Instead of going by Pershore, we had struck away northward.

1877.  Miss A. B. Edwards, Up Nile, x. 279. Leaving the tombs, we now strike off towards the quarries.

  fig.  1575.  Gascoigne, Philomene, Ep. Ded. I changed my copy, and stroke ouer into the Deprofundis which is placed amongst my other Poesies.

1618.  in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1906), 9. He stricks into another course and embargues all the hearbe into his hands.

1748.  Melmoth, Fitzosborne Lett., lvi. (1749), II. 78. A strange disposition … to tread the same paths that have been traversed by others, or to strike out into the most devious extravagancies.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. viii. The hapless course they struck into.

1863.  Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., iii. 66. He even strikes off into a wild levity and startling humour at times.

  b.  of inanimate things, esp. of a road, or stream.

1584.  B. R., trans. Herodotus, II. 94 b. Albeit there be another way also tendinge to the same place, strykinge ouer by the Neb of Delta.

1815.  Kidd, Geol. Ess., xxii. 218. The Gulph Stream … strikes off to the E. and S.E. towards Africa.

1883.  ‘Holme Lee,’ Loving & Serving, II. vii. 118. A bridle road … struck into the fields.

1894.  Speaker, 2 June, 610/1. Other roads striking off on every side into the forest.

  fig.  1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 78/1. Their hostility strikes out into many ramifications, but it is not difficult to trace all these to the parent root.

  c.  Of a boundary, path, mountain-range, etc.: To take a (specified) direction, esp. with reference to the points of the compass.

1456.  Regist. de Aberbrothoc (Bannatyne Club), II. 89. The boundis … syne strikand north our betwen the proper landis of Arbroth and the commoun.

1585.  Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 415/1. Passand … linallie thairfra as the commoun gait strikis ewin eist to the calsay and brig of the Bow.

1833.  Jas. Davidson, Brit. & Rom. Rem. Axminster, 73. That branch of the Fosse-way which, striking off at Watergrove, advances in a south-westerly direction.

1839.  Murchison, Silur. Syst., I. xxxvi. 493. A narrow quartzose ride … extends … in a line striking from 15° W. of N., to 15° E. of S.

1881.  Proc. R. Geog. Soc. (N. S.), III. 31. To the west of the Town, a range of hills strikes southerly.

  d.  trans. To strike a line or path, to take a direction or course of movement.

1867.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., Ser. II. III. II. 666. They struck a line across the estuary of the Wash.

1890.  A. Gissing, Village Hampden, II. x. 213. They struck their path across the fields.

1892.  Field, 26 Nov., 805/3. We decide to strike a bee line across country.

  II.  To stroke, rub lightly, smooth, level.

  3.  trans. To go over lightly with an instrument, the hand, etc.; to stroke, smooth; to make level. Also with down, out, over. Also absol. Now dial. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., III. 30. Mid wætere ne þwea ac strice hy mid claðe clæne.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11192. Þenne come chaumberleyns & squiers, Wiþ riche robes … To folde, to presse, & to pyke, & somme to hange, & som to strike.

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 244. Þat gode hors blessede he þo & louely strek ys mane.

c. 1460.  J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 280. Youre hed ne bak ye claw…, ne youre heere ye stryke.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 38. Where his footspore stood, there stryked he with his tayl and make it smothe with his mouth that noman shold espye it.

14[?].  in Archæologia, IV. 312. The warderoper to delyver the second sheete unto two yomen, they to crosse it over theyr arme, and to stryke the bedde as the ussher shall more playnly shewe unto theym.

1494.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 122. And the esquires to gather the sheete round together in their hand on eyther side the bedd, and goe to the bedd’s head and strike downe the same twice or thrice as they come downe.

15[?].  in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 308. Sum strykis down a threid bair cheik For luve.

1525.  trans. Brunswyke’s Handywork Surg., lxv. O iij. Take hede that y^e … foote stande vp ryght, and you with your flat hande ouer the fracture stryke so that ye about nor vnder fele none vneuen place.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/2. I stryke, I make smothe, japlanis. Stryke over this paper. Ibid. I stryke ones heed, as we do a chyldes whan he dothe well.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 226 b. He hauyng a great gray beard, striked out his beard and sayd to the hangman [etc.].

1558.  Phaër, Æneid, VIII. (1562), Cc j b. A she wolfe … them swetely lyckt reforming soft their limmes, & soft w^t tong them smothly stryckt.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 81. More stroken and made of when ought it doo aile, More gentle ye make it, for yoke or the paile.

1579.  Rice, Invect. agst. Vices, I ij b. He shall strike your heades, and make very muche of you.

  † b.  To shave. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 20303. Baldulf lette striken [c. 1275 strike] to þan bare lichen his bærd and his chinne.

  c.  To rub gently, stroke (a diseased part), by way of charm, or with the application of a salve. Obs. exc. dial. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.). Also, † to strike one’s hand over (a part).

c. 1400.  Brut, 229. And a drope of dry bloode and smal sande cleued on his honde, and þerwiþ he striked his eyne.

1611.  Bible, 2 Kings v. He will strike [1885 (Revised) wave] his hand ouer the place, and recouer the leper.

1886.  W. Somerset Word-bk., s.v., The ordinary specific for a stye in the eye is ‘to strike it three times with a wedding-ring.’

1892.  Baring-Gould, in Cornhill Mag., Sept., 236. People came to her to have their swellings struck.

  † d.  To scrape or skim off. Also, ? to skim (a liquid). Obs.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., I. 27. Take þan a clene canvas, & caste þe mylke vppe-on, & with a platere stryke it of þe cloþe.

1587.  Harrison, England, II. vi. 169/2, in Holinshed. She returneth the middle woort vnto the furnace, where it is striken ouer. Ibid., 170/1. She … seetheth againe with a pound and an halfe of new hops,… & when it hath sodden … she striketh it also.

  † 4.  To smear (soap, blood, etc.) on a surface; also to spread (a surface) with (something); to coat (a surface) over with oil, a wash, etc. Obs.

14[?].  in Rel. Ant., I. 108. To make murrour bryȝt. Stryke wel theron blak sope.

1525.  trans. Brunswyke’s Handywork Surg., lxi. O j. Take powder as hereafter foloweth medled with y^e whyte of an egge, and stryke it vpon a clothe lyke a plaster. Ibid., lxv. O ij b. The clothe must be wel stryken on the one syde with the salue.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/1. I hade as lefe stryke my breed with butter as with hony.

1535.  Coverdale, Exod. xii. 7. And they shal take of his bloude, and stryke it on both the syde postes of the dore. [So 1611; Heb., LXX, and Vulgate have simply ‘put’; Luther bestreichen, which Coverdale prob. followed.]

1577.  Harrison, England, II. x. 84 b/2, in Holinshed. Whyte lime … wherwith we stricke ouer our clay workes & stone walles, in Citties.

1596.  Thomasius, Dict. (1606), Moretum, A kinde of pudding; also any thing that may be striked, as butter.

1640.  T. Brugis, Marrow of Physicke, II. 141. Take it [your Marmalade] from the fire, and fill your Boxes, and with a feather strike it over with Rosewater.

1687.  J. Smith, Art Painting, xix. (ed. 2), 89. With a Pencil dipt in clear Wallnut-Oyl … let the printed Paper be struck clean over on both sides.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 328. A couple of men with brushes, struck over the surface … with raw Linseed oil.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 265. Take smooth-planed pear-tree wood, strike it over with aqua fortis.

  5.  To make (grain, etc.) level with the rim of the measure by passing a strickle over it. Also with object the measure. Also to strike off.

14[?].  Tretyce, in Walter of Henley’s Husb. (1890), 50. Se þ^t yo^r corne be mesured withe … a trewe bushell & þat euery bushell be strekyn.

1474.  [see STRIKE sb. 3].

1543.  trans. Act 25 Edw. III. Stat. 4 c. 10, 32. And euery measure of corne shalbe stryked without hepe.

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 104. When wee sende our corne to mill, wee allwayes strike all cleane of; yett the use is in most places to handwave it…; but the millers will say that they had as leave have corn stricken, as soe handwaved.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 68. Strike off the heaped Powder.

1697.  View of Penal Laws, 338. If Head Officers of Cities … wilfully suffer any to sell Corn … by other Measure, or Strucken in other manner.

1878.  Act 41 & 42 Vict., c. 49 § 17. In using an imperial measure of capacity, the same shall not be heaped but either shall be stricken with a round stick,… or [etc.].

1892.  Field, 2 April, 469/3. The somewhat delicate operation of gently filling the bushel measure, striking it, and then weighing the oats.

  b.  To level (sand) in molding. Also with up.

1779.  Ann. Reg., Projects, 103/1. The sand should be struck smooth with an hollow rule.

1885.  [Horner], Pattern Making, 40. The moulder … strikes over a bed of hard rammed sand representing the top of the boss. Ibid., 67. Being plastic when in the wet state it [foundry loam] can be ‘struck up,’ or made to assume any shape that may be required.

  † 6.  To mold (wax, a taper, candle, etc.). Obs.

1485.  Churchw. Acc. St. Dunstan’s, Canterb., For strykyng of the pascall and the font taper ij s. iij d. For strykyng of x li of olde torche waxe x d.

1492–3.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 188. Payd to Roger Mydylton for strekyng of xiij^xx ll and xvj of waxe.

1526.  Churchw. Acc. Dunmow (MS.), fol. 4 b. Item for strykynge of the lyght … att the hy alter. Ibid. (1527), 6 b. Item, for strekynge of the Rode lyght, xiiid.

1546.  in Archæol. Cant. (1874), ix. 225. Payd to Holnesse for strekyng of the crosse lygth & the paschall & for strekyng of ij li. of small candles, iij s. iiij d. Ibid. (1547), 226. Item payd for strycking of the olde & new waxe at Ester, xv d. Ibid. Item payd for strykynge of ij li. of small candyll that wase of the passkoll, ij d. Ibid. (1555), 231. Item ffor strikinge of the same waxe, iiij d.

  7.  To mold (a brick or tile).

1683.  J. Houghton, Collect. Lett. Improv. Husb., II. vi. 188. With the Earth he forms a Brick, strikes it, and lays it upon the Pallat.

1736.  Neve, Build. Dict. (ed. 3), s.v. Brick G 2 b/2. The mould [of a stock-brick] is put on a Stock, after the Manner of moulding, or strikeing of Tiles. Ibid. And so they continue to strike and place them on the Stage.

  8.  Bricklaying. To level up (a joint) with mortar; to spread (mortar) along a joint. (Cf. 4.)

1668.  Leybourn, Build. Guide, II. 109. And here note, That the Barge Courses in any Building must be struck with Lime and hair Mortar.

1703.  T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 169. Pointing, (which is striking Mortar under the lower ends).

1833.  Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 1596. Strike the joints inside of the schoolrooms flush and fair for lime-whiting.

  b.  To cut off the superfluous mortar from the edges of (tiling).

1693.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc. (1703), 248. A piece of Lath … with which they strike, or cut off the Morter at the britches of the Tiles. Ibid. A Broome, to sweep the Tyling after ’tis strooke.

1842.  Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., § 1908.

  9.  Tanning. To smooth and expand (skins). Also to strike out.

1764.  Museum Rust., III. 54. Mr. Brookfield, tanner, reported, the specimens exhibited were well tanned, and thoroughly struck.

1845.  G. Dodd, Brit. Manuf., Ser. V. 193. The goat-skins, after being thoroughly washed, are … ‘struck,’ that is scraped and rubbed out as smooth as possible. Ibid. The drying in the loft has had the effect of shrivelling the skins … to obviate which, the skins are wetted, and ‘struck out,’ or smoothed again.

1897.  C. T. Davis, Manuf. Leather, xxiii. (ed. 2), 364. The skins … are next ‘struck out’ on mahogany tables…. A steel ‘slicker’ is used for this operation.

  10.  Carpentry. To fashion (molding) with a plane: = STICK v.¹ 18 c. [So Du. strijken.]

1842.  Gwilt, Archit., Gloss., Striking.… Another application of the word occurs in the practice of joinery, to denote the act of running a moulding with a plane.

1854.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XV. II. 456. A beaded moulding to be struck on each of the angles of the under sides of rafters.

  III.  To mark with lines, draw a line.

  Cf. OE. bestrícan ‘to make a stroke round’ (B.-T. Suppl.).

  † 11.  To mark (a surface) with a line or lines. Also to strike out, through. Obs.

1539.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VII. 218. Item, for calk to strik the treis witht.

c. 1710.  Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 122. They new washe and plaister their houses w^th in and without w^ch they strike out in squares like free stone.

1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xxiii. (1674), 171. An exquisite Card whereby to sail … struck through with lines on all parts.

  † b.  fig. To mark, stigmatize. Obs.

1594.  J. King, On Jonas, xiii. (1599), 177. Sylla: whose name shall bee striked with the blackest cole of infamie in all the ages of the worlde.

  12.  To draw (a straight line) esp. by mechanical means; to draw (a circle, an arc) with compasses. In wider sense, † to make (a stroke, written mark).

1611.  Hopton, Speculum Topogr., xxvii. 71. Placing the one foote of your compasse in g,… with the other strike the portion of the circle h i k l.

1614.  T. Bedwell, trans. Schoner’s De Num. Geom., 33. First with the iage, I strike two parallel lines.

1662.  Faithorne, Graving & Etching, xiv. 15. Accustome your self to strike your strokes firm and bold.

1687.  P. Ayres, Lyric Poems (1906), 272. Since my dull pen trembles to strike a line.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 413/2. Dashes … which serve for the cutting off or shortning of words,… which all of them are strucken downwards to the foot of the Letter.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 268. The nearer the Line struck from the Perpendicular approaches to a right Angle.

1770.  Luckombe, Hist. Printing, 229. None can strike two letters of the same signification, so as … to have the same likeness.

1856.  R. Ferguson, Northmen Cumbld. & Westmld., 199. Strike, to make a straight line by means of a string.

1875.  Sir T. Seaton, Fret Cutting, 65. Take your compasses, put on a pencil point, and with it strike the semicircle as above directed.

1881.  Chilton-Young, Ev. Man his own Mech., § 375. By aid of the chalk line and reel, a perfectly straight line could be struck from E to F.

1885.  [Horner], Pattern-making, 7. In striking special pairs of wheels, of course it is not necessary to use the same describing circle throughout.

  † b.  ? To interline in a list. Obs.

1639.  Fuller, Holy War, V. xxi. (1647), 265. The Reader, as he lighteth on more, at his leisure may strike them into this catalogue [of Princes].

  13.  To cancel or expunge with or as with the stroke of a pen. Obs. exc. in strike off (82 a), strike out (83 a), strike through (84), and in the phrase to strike (a name, a person) off or (now rarely) out of a list. † Also rarely with away.

  To be struck off the rolls: see ROLL sb.¹ 3 c.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Friar’s T., 66. Thanne wolde he seye, freend, I shal for thy sake Do striken hire out of oure lettres blake.

1549.  Olde, Erasm. Par. Eph., 6. Christ … stroke away al the difference of circumcised, and not circumcised.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 56. That thou didst loue her, strikes some scores away From the great compt.

1746.  H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 15 April. Vernon is struck off the list of admirals.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xlvii. O! could I strike from my memory all former scenes.

1839.  Thackeray, Fatal Boots, Jan. He has struck Thomas out of his will.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. II. 36. His name was struck out of the list of privy councillors.

1873.  P. V. Smith, Hist. Eng. Inst., III. viii. 214. A person tried for his life might … challenge and strike off the panel as many as thirty-five.

1883.  Miss M. Betham-Edwards, Disarmed, ii. The first person who flouts her shall be struck off my visiting list.

1891.  Field, 7 Nov., 701/3. [List of] Horses struck out of their engagements.

  14.  To form (a jury) by cancelling a certain number of names from the list of persons nominated to serve; similarly, to form (a committee), to make (a new register of voters).

1715.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5389/2. The Clerk of the Crown was required to strike a Jury for his Tryal.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. vi. 83. That twelve freeholders of that hundred, qualified to serve on juries, and struck by the sheriff, shall be summoned to appear at such court by rotation.

1821.  Examiner, 321/2. Let us suppose the Jury to be struck with perfect fairness and impartiality. [Ibid. (1823), 323/1. Out of the 48 persons first nominated, each party, after due inquiry, strike twelve—leaving 24, of whom the first 12 called (who attend) form the actual jury.]

1877.  Cox, Cases Crim. Law (1878), XIII. 646. The case was tried by a special jury of the city of Dublin, struck under the old system.

1892.  Graphic, 9 April, 455/2. If the General Election fell at any date after the 31st of July, when the new Register is struck.

1896.  Daily News, 17 Dec., 4/7. The Committee was struck late in the summer, and did not meet till the 15th of August.

  15.  To make or cut (a tally). See TALLY sb.¹ 1 b.

1626.  [see TALLY sb. 1 b].

1634.  B. Jonson, Loves Welcome Bolsover, Wks. 1640, II. 284. We ha’ cleft the bough, And struck a tallie of our loves, too, now.

1644.  Docq. Lett. Patent at Oxf. (1837), 392. To deliuer back the Tallies strucken for the same as aforesaid vncancelled.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett., VI. xxxii. (1650), I. 220. I reconcile my self to my Creator, and strike a tally in the Exchequer of Heaven for my quietus est, ere I close my eyes.

1695–6.  Act 7 & 8 Will. III., c. 30 § 38. Several Tallies … have been also levied or stricken att the Receipt of the Exchequer upon His Majesties said Revenue ariseing in the General Letter-Office.

  16.  Agric. To mark off (land, a ridge) by plowing once up and down the field (also with down, up); to make (furrows) in this manner (also with out); also absol.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 128. Thry fallow once ended, go strike by and by.

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 45. You must not let it lie long before you strick, size, or plow it up into small Ridges.

1789.  Trans. Soc. Arts, I. 123. To striking said fields, seventeen acres.

1834.  D. Low, Elem. Pract. Agric., 146. The first operation in the forming of ridges is striking the furrows.

1844.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, I. 465. The first process in ridging up land from the flat surface is called feering or striking the ridges.

1844.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 5. These [ridges] … are … struck down with two furrows. Ibid. (1845), VI. II. 287. Cost of cultivation [of hops] … Striking up and furrowing, 0 5 0. Ibid. (1846), VII. I. 41. This land … is again ploughed across … in the manner we term striking, or back-bouting. This is done by turning one furrow to the land, and in returning to turn over this furrow, and the furrow or earth on which it was laid.

  b.  To make (a row of holes) with a dibble.

1797.  A. Young, Agric. Suffolk (ed. 2), 48. A man, walking backwards on the flag,… with a dibber of iron … in each hand, strikes two rows of holes … on each flag.

1805.  R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. 475. A one-horse roll then follows to level the flag, or furrow, for the dibblers, who strike only one row upon each.

  IV.  To lower (sails, masts), and derived senses.

  Sense 17 is in (M)LG. and (M)Du. and in mod.G.; it therefore cannot be a derivative from branch V, which is specially English. The actual development is uncertain; possibly the sense may be pre-Teut.: cf. L. stringĕre to strip off (leaves, etc.).

  17.  Naut. To lower or take down (a sail, mast, yard, etc.); esp. to lower (the topsail) as a salute and (more rarely) as a sign of surrender in an engagement. Phrase, to strike sail. To strike a hull (see A-HULL 1867). Also to strike down.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1013 (Camb.). Hi strike seil & maste & Ankere gunne caste.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, IV. 80. Forne had þei striked a strake and sterid hem þe better, And abated a bonet or þe blast come.

c. 1440.  Bone Flor., 1864. Then beganne the storme to ryse,… They stroke the sayle.

1524.  Inform. Pilgr. Holy Land (Roxb.), c iv b. So they saylled forth … & neuer stryked saylle tyll they came to port Iaffe.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 42. Now strike your sales ye iolly Mariners, For we be come vnto a quiet rode.

c. 1594.  Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.), 13. By that they had some 3 peeces bestowed on them they stroke saile, yealdinge themselves unto the mercie of our Generall.

1601.  Weever, Mirr. Mart., B vj b. They vaile their bonnet low, And strike their top-saile in submissiue dutie.

1611.  Bible, Acts xxvii. 17. They vsed helps,… and fearing lest they should fall into the quicke-sands, strake saile, and so were driuen.

1626.  Capt. Smith, Accid. Yng. Seamen, 28. Strike your top masts to the cap. Ibid. (1627), Sea Gram., xii. 56. He must … strike a Hull that you may not descry him by his sailes.

1630.  Wadsworth, Pilgr., ii. 8. The Marriners stroke Saile and submitted.

1644.  Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 104. So when we take downe the top-masts, they say, Strike them downe.

1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 296. Both Ships struck their Yards & Top masts.

1762–9.  Falconer, Shipwr., II. 257. Now some, to strike top-gallant-yards attend.

1768.  Ann. Reg., 92. A body of sailors … proceeded … to Sunderland…, and at the cross there read a paper, setting forth their grievances…. After this they went on board the several ships in that harbour, and struck (lowered down) their yards, in order to prevent them from proceeding to sea.

1814.  Scott, Ld. of Isles, III. xii. Fain to strike the galley’s yard, And take them to the oar.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxii. The royal-yards were then struck.

1890.  W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., II. xxi. 181. His maintopmast was struck, that is, sent down on deck.

1894.  C. N. Robinson, Brit. Fleet, 179. The custom of ‘striking’ or lowering a sail [as a salute] has almost died out.

  in figurative phrases.  1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 117. Nowe would I of my boke haue made an ende, And with my ship drawen to some hauen or port, Striken my sayle.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. iii. 5. Now Margaret Must strike her sayle, and learne a while to serue, Where Kings command.

1680–90.  Temple, Ess. Pop. Discont., Wks. 1731, I. 270. To this, all differing Opinions, Passions and Interests should strike Sail.

1733.  Pope, Sat. Donne, IV. 231. He boarding her, she striking sail to him.

  b.  To haul down (a flag), esp. as a salute or as a sign of surrender. Chiefly in the phrases to strike (the) flag, to strike one’s colors. Also to strike one’s flag (said of an admiral): see FLAG sb.⁴ 2.

1628.  Digby, Voy. Mediterr. (Camden), 42. Because I did not strike flag nor do other ceremonies of dutie.

1666–7.  Pepys, Diary, 4 March. He hears that the Dutch … will have a promise of not being obliged to strike the flag to us before they will treat with us.

1676.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1077/4. Three Ostend Privateers … fired several Guns at him,… to make him strike his Colours.

1692.  Capt. Smith’s Seaman’s Gram., I. xvi. 77. To lower or strike the Flag, is to pull it down upon the Cap, and in Fight is a token of yielding; but otherwise of great respect.

1747.  J. Lind, Lett. Navy, i. (1757), 31. If an admiral be killed, the instructions forbid his flag to be struck, for fear of discouraging the fleet.

1799.  Hull Advertiser, 6 July, 1/4. Admiral Lord Bridport struck his flag last evening.

1802.  C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., To strike the colours. This is properly a naval term, but it may be applied to military matters on some occasions.

1867.  J. T. Headley, Farragut & Nav. Commanders, 492. He set sail for Washington, and on the 12th of next month struck his flag as admiral of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

  fig.  1861.  Whyte-Melville, Good for Nothing, xiii. I. 162. I thought he seemed very much smitten with the young lady. You know he is not very susceptible, so when he does strike his flag, it is all the greater compliment.

1875.  F. T. Buckland, Log-Book, 141. The mouse … would have to fight and not strike his colours to a scorpion as he would to a cat.

  c.  absol. To lower sail, haul down one’s flag; esp. to lower the topsails or haul down the flag or colors as a sign of surrender or as a salute.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 338. Thei hadden wynd at wille tho, With topseilcole and forth they go, And striken nevere, til thei come To Tyr.

1449.  Paston Lett., I. 85. I cam abord the Admirall, and bade them stryke in the Kyngys name of Englond.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 185. The day befoir the schip strak in the raid of Leyth.

1617.  in J. S. Corbett, Fighting Instruct. (1905), 39. If you give chase and being near a ship you shall shoot to make her strike.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine, s.v. Sail (1780), Kk 2 b. All foreign vessels strike to an English man of war in the British seas.

1814.  Niles’ Weekly Reg., 19 Nov., 174/2. The Avon had not struck, but was reported to have had her colors nailed to the mast.

1836.  Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xxx. The second lieutenant was deputed to pull alongside of the frigate to ascertain if she had struck.

1886.  Henty, Yarns on Beach, 84. Captain Ball … reported that the fort with which he was engaged had struck.

  fig.  1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 266. We see the winde sit sore vpon our sailes, And yet we strike not, but securely perish.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. iv. What, will he saile by, and not once strike, or vaile to a Man of warre? ha?

1749.  Smollett, Gil Blas, V. i. (1782), II. 161. I thought myself the first man in the world, but truely I strike to you.

1886.  Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll, i. He would have clearly liked to stick out; but there was something about the lot of us that meant mischief, and at last he struck.

  18.  trans. a. Naut. To lower (a thing) into the hold by means of a rope and tackle. Chiefly to strike down (also absol.). Also, to strike out, to hoist out from the hold and lower to the dock.

1644.  Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 104. When we lower any thing into the howld with the tackles or any other roape, we call it Striking-down into Howld.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., I. v. 56. Each Captain had orders … to strike down some of their great guns into the hold.

1850.  H. Melville, White Jacket, I. xxxvii. 242. To the … consternation of the sailors, an order now came from the quarter-deck to ‘strike the strangers down into the main-hold!’

c. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 71. The fore hatchway, for striking down or hoisting up stores in the fore part of the ship.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Strike down! the order to lower casks, &c., into the hold.

1890.  W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., II. xxi. 181. He had struck the long gun forward down below.

  † b.  gen. To lower, let down with a rope.

1547.  in J. R. Boyle, Hedon (1875), App. 135. Item, for strykyng the greatte stee, ij.d.

1595.  Strange Things R. Hasleton, in Arber, Garner, VIII. 380. And by it [sc. the rope] did I strike myself over the wall into the town ditch.

  † c.  To let down the rope or chain of (a crane). Also to strike down (see quot. 1778). Obs.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/2. I stryke, I let downe the crane, je lache.… Stryke lowe.

1778.  Pryce, Min. Cornub., Expl. Terms 329/1. Strîk.… To strik or streeck down, or strike down; is to let a man down in a Shaft by the windlass.

  19.  Building. a. To remove (scaffolding); in trench-work, to remove (the timbers with which the sides have been secured). b. To remove (the center or centering of an arch).

  a.  1694.  Evelyn, Diary, 5 Oct. The choir, now finish’d as to the stone work, and the scaffolds struck both without and within, in that part.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 107. If we consider religion only as the scaffolding of reason;… any one … may see that it is much too early to strike the scaffolding yet.

1821.  Corr. W. Fowler (1907), 406. The angels … will want painting … that may be done at any time with a ladder if you must strike the scaffold before they are ready.

1868.  Milman, St. Paul’s, xiv. 347. On striking the scaffolding, part of the south transept … came down.

  b.  1739.  Labelye, Short Acc. Piers Westm. Bridge, 43. The … Arches … would have been in … Danger of falling the Moment the Centers that supported them … should be struck. Ibid., 45. They attempted to strike down the Centers, on which they had turned the Arches.

1838.  Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 127/1. Upon striking the centering the arches followed from 1 inch and ³/₄ to 2 inches and ³/₄.

1883.  Specif. Alnwick & Cornhill Rlwy., 4. The string courses … are not to be put on until the centres are struck.

  20.  Shipbuilding. To cause (a vessel) to slide down, off (the slipway); to release (a boat from the cradle).

a. 1647.  Pette, in Archaeologia, XII. 259. Being ready to have the ship strucken down upon her ways, I caused twelve of the choice master carpenters of his majesty’s navy to be sent for from Chatham.

1892.  Field, 26 Nov., 825/2. She is hauled up on their large patent slipway and struck off the cradle.

  21.  To discharge (a load); to empty (a vessel) of its load.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Sea Gram., vii. 33. When you let any thing downe into the Howle, lowering it by degrees, they say, Amaine; and being downe, Strike.

1797.  J. Curr, Coal Viewer, 12. The modes I have invented of striking, or landing and emptying them [sc. corves].

1901.  Law Jrnl. Rep., LXX. Chanc. Div. 680/2. The operation known as striking the casks—that is, discharging the vans with the load.

  absol.  1702.  Post Man, 12–14 March, 2/2. Advt., Lost on the Key, or by error delivered a Pipe of … Wine … which is wanted out of a parcel of Wines taken up by Josiah Bishop,… who ordered the Carmen to strike in Cullumstreet near Ipswich Arms.

  b.  Sugar-boiling. To empty (the liquor, the tache).

1793.  B. Edwards, Hist. Brit. Col. W. Indies, V. ii. II. 235. This operation is usually called striking; i. e., lading the liquor, now exceedingly thick, into the cooler.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 1203. The thermometer … can by no means be regarded as a sure guide, in determining the proper instant for striking the teache.

1882.  Spons’ Encycl. Industr. Arts, etc. v. 1891. If, after a moment’s cooling, the sling can be formed into a ball which does not stick to the fingers,… the correct period has arrived for striking.

  22.  To let down (a tent) for removal; to remove the tents of (a camp or encampment).

1707.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4337/2. The Enemy … struck their Tents, and form’d in Line of Battle.

1825.  Scott, Talism., xxii. The pavilion which they had left, was … struck with singular dispatch.

1829.  C. Rose, Four Yrs. S. Africa, 167. At the first dawn of day, all was in motion;… some striking the tent, yoking the oxen, and saddling the horses.

1854.  F. A. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (ed. 6), 148. To strike the Encampment…. at the word Strike Tents, and Pickets, the pickets are struck at once; the tents and marquees prepared for striking…. At the word Down, the whole are lowered together.

1891.  Field, 26 Dec., 973/2. Next morning we struck camp and turned homewards.

  23.  To unfix, put out of use.

1793.  Ann. Reg., Chron., 53 Bath. This day the whole body of chairmen … struck their poles, and proceeded in a mutinous manner to Guildhall, respecting the granting of their licences.

[1821–6:  see 24 b.]

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxvi. The steps [of the caravan] being struck by George and stowed under the carriage, away they went.

1851.  W. Bolland, Cricket Notes, iv. 67. Arrange, before your game commences, the hour for dinner, and striking wickets.

  b.  Theatr. To remove (a scene); to remove the scenery, etc., of (a play); to turn down (a light).

1889.  Daily Tribune (N. Y.) 14 July (Cent. Dict., s.v. SET¹ 9). An elaborate scene is ‘set’ when it is arranged upon the stage, and ‘struck’ when it is removed.

1891.  Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Dec., 1/3. It took twelve hours of work by a very large staff to ‘strike’ ‘Ivanhoe’ and mount ‘La Basoche.’

1893.  Black & White, Christm. No. 7/1. Stage suddenly dark. Gas ballens and limes slowly up. Strike all gas lengths.

  c.  Hawking. (See quot.) Cf. UNSTRIKE v.

1891.  Harting, Bibl. Accipitr., 230. Strike the hood, to half open it, so as to be in readiness to hood off the moment the hawk is to be flown.

  24.  intr. Of an employee: To refuse to continue work; esp. of a body of employees, to cease working by agreement among themselves or by order of their society or union.

  For the origin of this sense cf. quot. 1768 in sense 17 and quot. 1793 in sense 23.

1768.  Ann. Reg., 107. [May 9th] This day the hatters struck, and refused to work till their wages are raised.

1793.  G. Dyer, Compl. Poor People Eng., 74. The poor … seldom strike, as it is called, without good reason…. The colliers had struck for more wages.

1801.  Times, 3 Aug., 3/3. A number of Journeymen Biscuit-bakers … had entered into a combination, and struck from their work for an increase of wages.

1840.  Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., III. 32/2. They ‘struck,’ as it is termed, because their employer infringed, as they considered, upon their privileges.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, I. viii. The fifth form would fag us, and I and some more struck.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 2 Jan., 10/1. The London omnibus men struck in a body.

  b.  More explicitly to strike work, † tools (cf. sense 23).

1803.  Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), I. xi. 376. I never heard of authors striking work, as the mechanics call it, until their masters the booksellers should increase their pay.

1820.  Croker, in C. Papers (1884), I. vi. 176. The regiment intended to strike work, as the tradesmen would say.

1821–6.  Chalmers, Wks. (c. 1840), XVI. 69. If … the artisans of any establishment should strike their tools.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. vi. i. Thus do Cabinet-ministers themselves, in extreme cases, strike work.

1891.  Law Times’ Rep., LXV. 580/1. The secretaries called off their respective union men, who in obedience to the call struck work.

  transf.  1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), x. lxi. The machinery of the window sash abruptly striking work.

1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 56. The liver can ‘strike work’ and refuse to secrete bile.

  c.  trans. Of a workmen’s society or union: To order a strike of workmen against (a firm); to order (a body of workmen) to strike.

1891.  Daily News, 31 Dec., 6/3. Pending the outcome, no fresh firms will be struck.

1892.  Bury Guardian, 23 April, 5/5. The secretary of the Weavers’ Association struck the mill on an entirely new question.

  d.  To leave off (work), e.g., at the close of the day, at meal-times. Also absol.

1890.  Conan Doyle, Firm of Girdlestone, xxx. 235. The work went on until six, when all hands struck and went off to their homes or to the public-house, according to inclination.

1891.  Mary E. Mann, Winter’s Tale, II. 259. Another good hour’s digging was due to Sir Hugh before his day-labourer was justified in striking work and betaking himself homeward.

  V.  To deal a blow, to smite with the hand (occas. another limb), a weapon or tool. The construction with cognate obj. (to strike a stroke, a blow) is common to most of the senses in this branch that admit of absolute or intransitive use. See BLOW sb.¹, STROKE sb.

  25.  trans. To deal (a person, an animal) a blow; to hit with some force either with the hand or with a weapon. Also with double obj. to strike (a person) a blow.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12429. Þe maister … Gaf iesu wit hand a strak; For he him strak wit na resun, Ded in þe place þar fell he dun.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 14. Al-þough þow stryke me with þi staffe with stikke or with ȝerde.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 283. Socrates walkenge in a cite, and strynken [sic; Trevisa evel i-smete on the heed; L. colapho percussus] of a symple felowe.

1556.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 255. Thomas Cartwright … offered to stricke with the mase certen of the defendants.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xxvi. 68. And other smote his face with the palmes of their hands, saying, Prophecie vnto vs O Christ: who is he that strooke thee?

c. 1590.  Marlowe, Faustus, 896 (Brooke). Cursed be hee that strooke his holinesse a blowe on the face.

1700.  S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 140. Laying ’em flat on their Belly, and stricking them with a Rope across the Breech.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. ’Till he yowl’d sair she strak the poor dumb tyke.

1824.  Examiner, 539/2. [He] struck the boy a violent blow.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xlix. You may strike me if you like, sir, or hit any cruel blow.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xxxviii. Glanydon … forgetting that he was a captive, had once struck in the face a Prætorian officer who insulted him.

  b.  absol. and intr. To deal or aim a blow with the fist, a stick, etc. Const. at. Also to strike back, out.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXV. (Percy Soc.), 182. He stroke at me with many strokes rude.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/1. I stryke at the gaynest, or at all adventures, as one dothe that is in afraye and taketh no hede where or howe he stryketh.

1579–80.  North, Plutarch, Themistocles (1595), 129. Strike and thou wilt, said he, so thou wilt heare me.

1644–66.  J. Caryl, Expos. Job xii. 5, 6 (1676), I. 1118. Many are striking at thy heels, but they cannot strike them up, while God holds thee up.

1678.  Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xi. § xv. (1699), 66. If by our Law, he who stricks with his Fist, or a Batton … be punishable by death.

1798.  Wordsw., Peter Bell, I. 195. And the blows fell with heavier weight As Peter struck—and struck again.

1859.  Tennyson, Marr. Geraint, 413. His dwarf … Struck at her with his whip.

1894.  E. A. Haggard, Drummer Boy, vii. [He] was hot-blooded enough, and quite ready to strike back if struck.

  26.  trans. To hit, smite (a material, an object) with an implement, esp. with one designed for the purpose. Also with cogn. obj.

  † In early use also with phrase expressing the result, as to strike to powder.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7018. Þe devels … with hamers gyf swa gret dyntes, Þat alle to powdre moght stryke hard flyntes.

1572.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxx. 163. As Quheit is strukin for [read fro] the stra besyde.

1585.  Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 297. Flagellum,… battledarre wherwith the ball is striken.

1602.  Dolman, La Primaud. Fr. Acad., III. (1618), 732. Fire … is forced out of the flint being stroken with a gad of steele.

1680.  Cotton, Compl. Gamester (ed. 2), 19. [Billiards.] Wooden Boxes for the hazards … are nothing near so commendable as the former [i.e., nets], because a Ball struck hard is more apt to flie out of them when struck in. Ibid. If the head [of the cue] happen to be loose, you will never strike a smart stroke.

1744.  in ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Man. (1851), 31. If a Ball is nipped up and he Strike her again Wilfully … its out.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., v. (1842), 153. Substances should be made red hot, and struck in that state, until they are sufficiently cracked.

1866.  ‘Capt. Crawley,’ Billiard Bk., iv. 43. A ball struck moderately hard will traverse the table three or four times from end to end.

  fig.  1781.  Cowper, Table-T., 663. Wit now and then, struck smartly, shows a spark, Sufficient to redeem the modern race From total night and absolute disgrace.

  b.  absol. and intr. To make a stroke with a hammer or other implement; spec. in Smithing.

  Phr. To strike while the iron is hot: to make one’s effort while opportunity serves. Also allusively.

a. 1340.  Hampole, Pr. Consc., 7013. And als smyths strykes on þe yren fast.

1530.  Palsgr., 740/2. The poore smyth ryseth at foure of the clocke to stryke with his hammer upon his anvelde.

a. 1566.  R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (1571), C iij b. I haue plied the Haruest, and stroke when the Yron was hotte.

[1575.  Gascoigne, Glasse Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 40. Play you now the wise man, and strike the Iron while it is hot.]

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. 122 b. Strike upon the head of euery nayle with the hammer.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. i. 49. Strike now, or else the Iron cooles.

1615.  Chapman, Odyss., XII. 487. He … of my present absence tooke His fit aduantage, and their iron strooke At highest heate.

1744.  Love, Cricket (1754), 20. The Champion strikes. When scarce arriving fair, The glancing ball mounts upwards in the air.

a. 1841.  T. Hook, Ned Musgrave, i. Taking the poker in his right hand, and striking at a large coal placed on the summit of the grate, [etc.].

1866.  ‘Capt. Crawley,’ Billiard Bk., iii. 27. Between the thumb and forefinger you place the Cue, in taking aim before you strike.

1890.  W. E. Norris, Misadventure, II. x. 138. She struck while the iron was hot.

  c.  trans. To strike (a prisoner) in the boots: to crush the limbs by driving wedges between them and the iron boots as a form of torture (cf. BOOT sb.³ 3). Obs. exc. Hist.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, III. (1724), I. 583. When any are to be struck in the boots, it is done in the presence of the Council.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 291. They … directed the magistrates of Edinburgh to strike the prisoner in the boots.

  27.  With complementary adv. or phrase: To remove or drive (a thing) with a blow of an implement or the hand. Cf. strike down 79 a.

  Now somewhat rare; formerly common in contexts where some other vb., as knock, would now be used.

1450.  Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869), I. 12. The lede tane vp, and the bodome strukkin owt. Ibid. (1499), 75. It is statute that na persoun sell nor tap derrer beir than for xvj d. the galloun, vnder the payne of strikkin furth of the heid of the barrell.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lv. 188. He … strake out braynes with the pomell of his swerd.

1567.  Harman, Caveat, 64. After halfe a dosen blowes, he strycks his staffe out of his hande.

1601.  Bp. W. Barlow, Defence, 217. After his sole and onely eie was stroken out.

1612.  Peacham, Minerva Brit., 113. The Tennis-ball, when strucken to the ground, With Racket,… doth back againe rebound.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 357. Hee commanded my irons to bee strooke off.

1657.  Billingsly, Brachy-Martyrol., xiv. 45. Then were his teeth struck out.

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., iii. 51. You may strike a nail in at the hole. Ibid. (1678), v. 90. You may stiffen it by striking a wooden wedge between the Mortess and the Staff.

1680.  Reg. Privy Counc. Scot., Ser. III. VI. 389. Udney … caused strick two old pewes out of their hinges.

1744.  in ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Man. (1851), 31. If in running a Notch y^e Wicket is struck down by a Throw … its out. Ibid. He that catches y^e Ball must strike a Stump out of y^e Ground Ball in Hand.

1797.  Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Old Woman’s T. (1799), I. 392. [They] now prepared to strike the weapon from his hand.

1855.  Kingsley, Westw. Ho! ix. Strike their swords down, Raleigh, Mackworth!

1910.  J. McCabe, Prehist. Man, iii. 40. The … knife (a long flake of flint, struck off the core at one blow).

  In figurative context.  c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 1933. Adversyte … Of some of theyr chyldren I stryke out the eye.

1706.  T. Boston, Mem., viii. (1899), 177. The Lord struck the bottom out of my discouragement.

1814.  Scott, Lett., in Lockhart (1837), III. iii. 118. The huge bulk of his power … was obviously to sink when its main props were struck away.

1853.  T. T. Lynch, Self-Improvement, vi. 154. The tasted cup is stricken from us ere we have done more than taste.

  b.  fig. To remove suddenly as with a blow, to dash.

1599.  T. Storer, Life & Death Wolsey, F 3 b. No strokes of Musickes sound could strike away, High thoughts by night, nor deepe conceits by day.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., xxviii. I shall love to see the sense of approaching death strike the colour from that ruddy cheek.

1891.  A. Conan Doyle, in Strand Mag., II. 483/1. I began to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of his face.

  28.  To stamp with a stroke.

  a.  To impress (a piece of metal, coin), stamp (a medal) with a device by means of a die; to coin (money); † also absol. Also to strike off.

1449.  Sc. Acts Jas. II. (1814), II. 37/1. Ande at nane tak one hande to strik in tym to cum bot þai þat has or sal haf commandment of the king vnder his grete sele. Ibid. (1451), 39/1. Þai think it expedient … at þar be strikyn in þis realme new mone conformyt ewin in wecht to the mone of Inglande.

1463.  Stat. Irel. 3 Edw. IV., c. 32. To make and strike … iiij. peces of brasse or coper rennyng at j.d. of oure said siluer.

c. 1520.  in Gutch, Collect. Cur. (1781), II. 295. Item iij gilte Boolls withe a Cover strekin withe Martletts. Ibid. (1526), 325.

1551.  Sir J. Williams, Accompte (Abbotsf. Club), 86. Grotes stricken withe harpes.

1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., Stat. David II., 44. Ane notable signe salbe vpon it, quhereby it may be evidently knawen fra all other money alreadie striken.

1687.  H. Slingesby, Lett., 11 Oct., in Pepys, Diary (1879), VI. 157. The medalls made by Roettiers, of which I had an opportunity to chuse the best struck off.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, II. 42. A fine Medal was struck … on Occasion of the Victory.

1775.  Lond. Chron., 18–20 May, 474/3. Giles Forrester, Dereham, and Williams were charged with striking half-pence. Ibid. They seized eight shillings and four-pence halfpenny, with the dies for striking.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 620. Till the reign of Charles the Second our coin had been struck by a process as old as the thirteenth century.

1879.  H. Phillips, Notes Coins, 3. This medal appears to have been chased by hand and not to have been struck from a die.

  fig.  1841.  D’Israeli, Amen. Lit., II. 172. These scriptural plays … seem struck in the same mint.

  b.  To impress (a device) upon; also to impress (a die, etc.) with a device.

1551.  Sir J. Williams, Accompte (Abbotsf. Club), 77. For … strickinge the kinges armes vpon the plates in the busholles of a paier of pottes parcell gilte.

1639.  in Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees), 120. To Mr. Horsley for strikeing my Lord Deputyes coate on the organs, 4s.

1820.  T. Hodgson, Ess. Stereotype Printing, 102. The page … composed with these types … would become … one complete matrice, with which the plates, in relief and in reverse, could be struck. Ibid., 107. The operation of striking the matrices.

  c.  To impress or print by means of type, an engraving or the like; to print. Obs. exc. in to strike off.

1799.  Franklin, Ess., Wks. 1840, III. 217. The assembly … finding both to be such as required an extension of their paper currency … unanimously resolved to strike an additional sum of twenty thousand pounds.

1776.  Pennsylvania Gaz., 20 March, 3/1. Since a few of this day’s papers were struck off, we hear the above ship is a man of war of 64 guns.

1790.  Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 108. They can make use of that gentle means of striking paper to satisfy their demands.

1838.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 105. New title-pages can be struck off at a trifling expense.

1866.  J. P. Collier, in Athenæum, 3 Nov., 571/3. These few extra copies I have always had struck off by the printer.

1892.  Temple Bar, Sept., 53. Send it [an etched plate] to the printer to strike off a certain number of proofs.

  d.  To stamp (velvet, etc.).

1701.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3754/8. A Stuff Gown of Red and Blue Chequer-work, lined with a Norwich Stuff struck with Blue and dark-colour.

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 30. Nothing … can compare with the beauty of these velvets, or with the art necessary to produce such an effect, while the wrong side is smooth, not struck through.

  e.  fig. To imprint on the mind. ? Obs.

1615.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Fair & Foul Weather, A 4. I wish my Verse should such Impression strike, That what men Read off, they should thinke the like.

1651.  in M. Sellers, Acts Eastland Co. (Camden), Introd. 47. If there were but a motion of this remotion, I doubt not but it would strike a sad impression into their minds.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. x. § 5. There seems to be a constant decay of all our Ideas, even of those which are struck deepest.

1709.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1733), II. 395. Those Beautys which strike a sort of Melancholy.

  29.  Without the notion of great force: To tap, rap, knock. Also with cognate or double object, and intr. with on, upon.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VI. 237. Wallace … Straik at the dure with his fute hardely.

a. 1577.  Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1633), 49. When any man is made a Knight, hee kneeling downe is strooken of the Prince with his sword naked.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. v. 18. Tho with her sword on him she flatling strooke, In signe of true subiection to her powre.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., II. i. 32. Goe bid thy Mistresse, when my drinke is ready She strike vpon the Bell. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. ii. 117. He … Strikes his brest hard, and anon, he casts His eye against the Moone.

1699.  Dampier, Voy., II. I. 75. There is one that strikes on a small Gong, or a wooden Instrument, before every stroke of the Oar.

1732.  Pope, Epit. Gay, 12. The Worthy and the Good shall say, Striking their pensive bosoms—Here lies Gay.

1754.  Erskine, Princ. Sc. Law (1809), 169. If he get not access to the house, he must strike six knocks at the gate.

1843.  Penny Cycl., XXV. 446/1. Tutenag … is very sonorous when struck.

1844.  Eliz. Sewell, Amy Herbert, I. xii. 214. I do think if I had but a fairy’s wand, I should strike them all as they came into the house, and change them into boys.

1889.  Amelia E. Barr, Feet of Clay, ix. 164. He struck the table a blow which caused every dish to tremble.

1897.  R. Hichens & F. Hamilton, in Pall Mall Mag., XIII. 40. I struck sharply upon the glass of the window.

  indirect passive.  1653.  H. Cogan, trans. Hist. Diod. Sic., V. ii. 177. A huge brazen table, which being strucken upon, yeelded … a dreadfull sound.

  † b.  To beat (time). Obs. rare.

1663.  J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 136. This harmony would not last long, did not the Chief Musician strike time and measure.

  c.  To beat or sound (a drum, etc.), esp. in order to ‘beat up’ for recruits or as a signal to march; to sound (an alarm) on a drum (said also of the drum). Also, to strike up. Also absol. Obs. exc. Hist.

1572.  Charters, etc. Peebles (1872), 342. The counsale … Ordanis the haill inhabitantis … to be in ane reddynes, quhen the swische strykis … to pas with thair baillies quhair thai pleis.

1577.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 641. Licence to stryke drummis, display handsenzies, and lift and collect the saidis cumpaneis of futemen.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 16. I may seeme well ynough too strike vp the drumme, and bring all my power to a vaine skirmishe.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 50. Drummer strike vp, and let vs march away.

1598.  R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Eunuch, IV. vii. 167. From whence I will strike vp alarme to shew when you shall beginne.

1612.  Coverte, True Rep., 24. They strooke vp their drums and were in Armes, taking vs to be Portugales.

1819.  Scott, Leg. Montrose, xiv. Neither did they strike kettle-drums again at the head of that famous regiment until they behaved themselves so notably at the field of Leipsic.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., x. II. 661. The kettledrums struck up: the trumpets pealed.

  d.  To touch (a string, a key of an instrument) so as to produce a musical note; poet. to play upon (a harp, lyre, etc.). Also † intr. const. upon.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Pulsus, Nerui in fidibus pulsi, stringes stroken.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxv. 446. A passion that fadeth away like the sound of a Lute, when the player ceasseth to strike.

1594.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. iii. § 3. He that striketh an instrument with skill, may cause notwithstanding a verie vnpleasant sound, if the string whereon he striketh chaunce to be vncapable of harmonie.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., V. iii. 98. Musick; awake her: Strike.

a. 1650.  King Estmere, lviii. in Child, Ballads, II. 54/2. He stroake upon his harpe againe.

1677.  F. North, Philos. Ess. Mus., 18. A great string struck near the Bridge with a Bow … will whistle and break into chords above; which if it were struck by the thumb … would give the true Tone.

1708.  Pope, Ode St. Cecilia’s Day, 63. But hark! he strikes the golden lyre!

1795.  Southey, Joan of Arc, IV. (1853), 41. Meantime the Trouveur struck the harp.

  fig.  1579.  J. Melvill, Diary (Bannatyne Club), 60. They dwelt verie commodiuslie togidder,… all strak on a string and soundet a harmonie.

1599.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. (1602), E 3 b. I will warble to the delicious concaue of my Mistresse care: and strike her thoughts with The pleasing touch of my voice.

1630.  Donne, Serm., ix. (1640), 90. That soule, who, whatsoever string be strucken in her base or treble, her high or her low estate, is ever tun’d toward God.

1828.  Mirror, V. 102/2. My muse shall strike a loftier string.

1831–3.  E. Burton, Eccl. Hist., iii. (1845), 51. They struck upon a chord which vibrated to the heart of every Israelite.

  30.  To produce by percussion.

  a.  (a) To produce (fire, a spark) by percussion, esp. by the percussion of flint and steel. Chiefly in the phrase to strike fire. Also, to strike out.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 823. Þan of flynt fyre þai strake, And made a fyre.

1578–9.  in Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees), 117. For an yron to stryke fyer with in the revestrie, 3 d.

1599.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. ii. Showers of dartes may darke Heavens ample browe, but not strike out a sparke.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, III. ii. 119. The manner to strike fire in rubbing two stones one against another, as some Indians vse.

1755.  Young, Centaur (1757), I. i. 129. I must observe, that no man can strike fire with a feather.

1810.  Scott, Lady of Lake, V. xviii. Blair-Drummond sees the hoofs strike fire.

1862.  Temple Bar, VI. 169. The fire which is struck out of a flint.

1865.  Meredith, R. Fleming, xvii. Two flints strike fire.

  absol.  1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. i. 141. Strike on the Tinder, hoa: Giue me a Taper.

  transf. and fig.  1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., I. ii. 177. I am glad that my weake words Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus.

1637.  R. Ashley, trans. Malvezzi’s David Persecuted, 103. That light, which untill it be stricken out doth never appeare.

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., I. 75. My pride struck out new sparkles of her own.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., I. 39, 40. O Thou! whose word from solid Darkness struck That spark, the sun; strike wisdom from my soul.

1891.  A. Gissing, Moorland Idyll, III. vi. 107. His words struck kindred sparks within herself.

1893.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., X. 277/1. Gleams of moonlight … struck a glitter from standing rain-pools.

  (b)  transf. (in recent use). To cause (a match) to ignite by friction. Also intr. of a match: To admit of being struck.

  The corresponding use of G. streichen is an application of the sense ‘to rub’ (cf. 3 above), and only accidentally coincides with this use.

1880.  Spurgeon, Serm., XXVI. 653. They may strike their matches and light their candles if they will.

1892.  Black & White, 30 July, 116/1. Matches that strike only on the box.

  (c)  Phr. To strike a light: to produce a flame with flint and steel or by the friction of a match.

1684.  Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 184. Wherefore he strook a Light (for he never goes also without his Tinder-box).

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, l. A light being struck, a fire was kindled.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xxviii. The means of striking light were at hand in the small apartment.

1892.  Temple Bar, April, 471. He felt for his matches and struck a light.

  fig.  1704.  Norris, Ideal World, II. viii. 381. If we were not to see but by striking a light to ourselves, we must for ever be in the dark.

  b.  To produce (music, a sound, note) by touching a string or playing upon an instrument; hence gen. to sound (a particular note). Also said of the instrument. Cf. strike up, 87 c.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 95. I greatlie mislike … your causing the treble strike a sharpe eight to the base.

1599[?].  A. Hume, Poems, vii. 217. Nor famous lute of cunning Amphion, Struike neuer note so pleasant to the eir.

1610.  Dowland, Var. Lute-lessons, C 1 b. The Note following though it be measured with a new measure, must be strooke with the fore-finger.

1629.  Milton, Hymn Nativ., 95. Such musick sweet … As never was by mortall finger strook.

1787.  Wolcot (P. Pindar), Ode upon Ode, Wks. 1816, I. 310. Didst ever see this lady striking A Upon her harpsichord, with bending ears?

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, i. Her reply was to strike a few chords, and begin a sweet, wild, plaintive air.

1892.  Graphic, 9 April, 468/2. With one hand we strike three or four notes simultaneously.

  fig.  1827.  Scott, Chron. Canongate, Introd. App. Whatever note he [Shakespeare] takes, he strikes it just and true, and awakens a corresponding chord in our own bosoms.

1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, iv. 30. What did, perhaps, strike an incongruous note was the presence of various implements of sport.

  c.  To make (a door through), to open out (a window) by knocking a hole through a wall. Sc.

1652.  Lamont, Diary (Maitl. Club), 40. She caused also a doore to be struken throughe the wall of her chamber, for to goe to the wine cellar.

1827.  [see STONE sb. 16 g].

  31.  To pierce, stab or cut (a person, etc.) with a sharp weapon. Also with double object. Also with compl. to strike dead, to (the) death. To strike through, to transfix. Also, † to cut (a gash).

  Now rare exc. as a contextual variety of sense 25; the verb would now hardly be used with reference to a thrust or stab, unless inflicted by a downward movement.

a. 1300–1400.  Cursor M., 18018 (Gött.). Mine eldrin folk of iuen lede Haue I done rise againes him, To strike him wid a spere ful grim.

a. 1375.  Joseph Arim., 567. A whit kniht … Baar him doun of his hors … strok him stark ded.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 6258. If any stert vpon stray, strike hym to dethe!

1461.  Paston Lett., II. 42. It is talkyd here how that … on of Howard’s men schuld a’ strekyn yow twyess with a dagere.

1515.  Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869), I. 156. He was adiugeit to be had to the trone and thair strikkin throw the hand.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 655. The Lorde Clyfforde … putting of his Gorget, sodaynely wyth an arrowe … was striken into the throte.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxi. (1912), 288. She ranne to her sonnes dagger, and … strake her selfe a mortall wound.

1622.  Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 19. That is Lacyes Case, where one was stricken on the Seas, and dyed on the Land, that the Common Law could not try this murther.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xvi. 423. Blinded with revenge, he strook a deep gash into his own thigh.

1745.  R. James, Med. Dict., III. s.v. Styptica, Trials were made … by stricking a Cock through the Head [etc.].

1825.  Scott, Talism., xxviii. The Templar struck him to the heart with a Turkish dagger.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott, I. iii. 105. The maid-servant, in a sudden access of insanity, struck her mistress to death with a coal-axe.

1893.  S. J. Weyman, in Longm. Mag., June, 114. What is to prevent me striking you through where you stand…?

  b.  fig. Of a feeling, etc.: To pierce (a person to the heart, to the quick).

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 2. Wan þe heldar gifiþ ensaumple to þe ȝong to deþ, þer is he to be stregun [St. Gregory feriendus est] wiþ scharp blamyng.

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., III. iii. (1553), O ij. The sodayn dreade of euery bodely payne woundeth vs to the hearte and striketh our deuocion starke dead.

a. 1540.  Barnes, Wks. (1572), 328/2. The which thyng, when S. Gregory saw, stroke hym sore to the hart.

1599.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. iv. Strike me quite through with the relentlesse edge of raging furie.

1674.  Fox in Jrnl. Friends’ Hist. Soc. (1914), July, 100. When shee hard of my being stoped by the impresen mee it strok her to the hart that shee died.

1697.  Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1703), 117. Humility disarms envy and strikes it dead.

1712.  R. F., trans. Du Bos’ Hist. League Cambray, II. 111. The News of the loss of Bologna, struck Pope Julius the 2d to the Heart.

1833.  Tennyson, Pal. Art, 220. She fell, Like Herod, when the shout was in his ears, Struck thro’ with pangs of hell.

  c.  With complementary adv. or phrase: To remove or separate with a cut. Now rare exc. in strike off (82 b).

c. 1320.  Sir Beues, 637. And sum he strok of þe swire.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, i. (Petrus), 362. Þan Nero bad a man suld ga, and strik symonis nek intwa.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 44. And heke hedes þou take with stalk in fere, Þat is in peses þou stryke.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 6375. Downe by the cheke his ere away he strake.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., II. (Town & C. Mouse), xvi. Muttoun and beif strukkin [v.r. strikin] in tailyeis greit.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 415. His brother richarde wolde have stryked the hede fro the body of hym.

c. 1614.  Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, III. 222. The anchore roape, With shyning sword vnsheath’t, in twaine be stroake.

1646.  Drumm. of Hawth., Answ. Objections agst. Scots, Wks. (1711), 213. That Nation, who stroke the Head from the Grandmother, may make small Reckoning to do the same to the Grandchild.

1831.  Examiner, 711/2. The soldier … struck the head from the body.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., xvii. Turnbull … struck from a neighbouring oak-tree a branch.

  32.  absol. and intr. (also with cognate object). To deliver a cut or thrust with a sharp weapon, Also said of the weapon. Const. at, † to, † unto.

  Phrase † without (a) stroke (or a blow) stricken (and variants), without any fighting. Cf. F. sans coup férir.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7346. Þe devils ay omang on þam salle stryke.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VI. 234. He smertly raiss, And, strikand, rowm about him mais.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 8760. A meruelous ymage … with a noble sword … Vp holdand on high as he þat wold stryke.

c. 1430.  Chev. Assigne, 333. Thenne he stryketh a stroke … Euen his sholder in twoo.

c. 1430.  Syr Tryam., 774. And sykurly can they stryke and threste.

1518.  Sel. Cases Star Chamber (Selden Soc.), II. 137. They met hym agen … and stroke at hym one of them wyth a knyffe.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., XII. x. (1622), 171. By the comming of the Parthians, the Hiberi were driuen out without stroke striking [L. sine acie].

1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. ii. 19. To banish him that strooke more blowes for Rome Then thou hast spoken words.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, III. 369. This said, he shooke, and threw his lance; which strooke through Paris shield.

1622.  R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea, xlv. 113. Pillage … all winked at and vnpunished, although such prizes haue beene rendred without stroake stricken.

1632.  Sir T. Hawkins, trans. Mathieu’s Unhappy Prosperitie, 222. The offer … had assured him of the whole Iland without a blow strucken.

1677.  Earl Castelhaven, in Essex Papers (Camden), II. 92. Without a stroke striking all the greate townes will submit unto him.

1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arc., II. 245. Like Lightning flam’d their Fauchions…; so strong they strook, There seem’d less Force requir’d to fell an Oak.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, II. (Globe), 372. The Fellow … struck at the Spaniard with his Hatchet.

1769.  Blackstone, Comm., IV. ix. 125. Assaulting a judge, sitting in the court, by drawing a weapon, without any blow struck, is punishable with the loss of the right hand.

1843.  Macaulay, Horatius, xxxviii. Herminius struck at Seius, And clove him to the teeth.

1861.  Temple Bar, II. 120. Shot down before I could strike a blow.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xlii. Even the soldier who had raised his hand to strike stood amazed, and delayed his blow.

  in fig. context.  1735.  Pope, Prol. Sat., 203. Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike.

  b.  fig., esp. in to strike at, to aim at the overthrow, destruction or defeat of.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 3. He ouercam hunger in desert,… he strak ageyn veyn glorie vp on þe temple.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. viii. 84. Thou shalt stryke a stroke most dolorous that euer man stroke.

a. 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lxxii. 98. Methocht Compassioun, vode of feiris, Than straik at me with mony ane stound.

1513.  More, Rich. III., in Hall, Chron. (1548), 28 b. It strake to her harte, like the sharpe darte of death.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxii. (1912), 484. And hate, & spare not, for your worst blow is striken.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. iii. 6. Smile gentle heauen, or strike vngentle death. Ibid. (1605), Lear, II. ii. 124. It pleas’d the King his Master very late To strike at me vpon his misconstruction.

1642.  Charles I., Answ. to Printed Bk., 29. The Regall Power was never before this time strucken at.

1645.  W. Jenkyn, Stil-Destroyer, Ep. Ded. A 3. The sin I here strike at, is very improperly called self-seeking.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 22 Dec. 1680. Parliament which was now assembl’d, and which struck at the succession of the Duke of York.

a. 1720.  Sewel, Trans. Hist. Quakers (1795), I. IV. 283. This book struck chiefly against the Quakers.

1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 394. When first ambition struck at regal power.

1777.  Potter, Æschylus, Persians, 474. Thy words strike deep, and wound the parent’s breast.

1829.  Sir J. Mackintosh, Sp. Ho. Comm., 1 June, in Hansard, 1601. A measure which would … strike the death-blow to whatever attempts might be made on the part of other states.

1845.  McCulloch, Taxation, III. ii. (1852), 445. It obviously strikes at the very foundation of the principle of accumulation.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 14 May, 581/2. The Revolution … began to strike at Church and King.

1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxiii. 298. Every fresh proof of Anthony’s love for her struck like a knife into her heart.

  c.  Phr. To strike at the root or foundation: to attempt or tend to the utter destruction or overthrow (of something).

1550.  Latimer, Serm., B viij. So we Preachers … haue drawen our swerdes of Gods word, and stryken at the rootes of all euyll, to haue them cut downe.

1661.  W. Lowther, in Extr. St. Papers rel. Friends, Ser. II. (1911), 118. To disowne all Magistracy, and soe by dangerous consequence strike att the foundation of his Majestyes power.

1793.  J. Bowles, Ground War w. France (ed. 5), 71. Principles which strike at the root of all established Government.

  d.  To strike short, wide. (lit. and fig.)

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 491. Anon he findes him, Striking too short at Greekes. Ibid., 494. Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage strikes wide.

1745.  Wesley, Answ. Church, 39. You strike quite wide of me still. I never said so of what I do.

1820.  Examiner, 414/1. It appears to us then that this excellent and able actor struck short of the higher and imaginative part of the character.

  33.  In various specific uses of sense 31.

  a.  trans. To prick (a horse) with the spur. Obs.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, VI. 226. Than vith the spuris he strak his steide.

1813.  Scott, Rokeby, VI. xxxii. His charger with the spurs he strook.

  b.  To kill or wound (deer) with an arrow or spear, or with a gunshot. Said also of the weapon.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1069. Þe stede þar þis stith man strikis þis hert, Sagittarius forsoth men gafe it to name.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/1. I stryke a dere or any other wylde beest, as a huntar dothe … je enferre.

1568.  in Archæologia, XXXV. 206. A forreste … where my Lord strake iij. stagges with his gonne.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 32. Didst not thou see a Bleeding Hind, Whose right haunch earst my stedfast arrow strake?

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., III. iii. 74. He that strikes The Venison first, shall be the Lord o’ th’ Feast.

1810.  Scott, Monast., xix. The huntsman-like fashion in which you strike your game.

  c.  To spear (a turtle), harpoon (a whale, etc.).

1697.  Dampier, Voy., I. 33. Our Moskito men went in their Canoa, and struck us some Manatee, or Sea-cow.

1827.  O. W. Roberts, Voy. Centr. Amer., 94. The spear with which the Indians strike the turtle, is made of very hard wood.

  † d.  To lance or cut (a vein). Also absol. Obs.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 329. A white vaine beeing striken, if at the fyrst there springe out bloud, it argueth a good constitution of bodye.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 409. Hauing striken [1658 stricken] it with a fleame, thrust out the ielly with your finger.

1639.  T. de Grey, Compl. Horsem., 350. The cure is eyther to stricke with your fleame [etc.].

  † e.  To broach (a cask). Obs.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vii. 103. Strike the Vessells hoa. Heere’s to Cæsar.

1717.  Prior, Alma, iii. 426. L’Avare … Strikes not the present Tun, for fear The Vintage should be bad next Year.

  f.  Angling. To cause the hook to pierce the mouth of (a fish) by a jerk or sudden movement of the tackle; to hook. Also said of the hook or the rod. Also, to cause (a hook) to pierce the mouth. Also absol. In 16–17th c. often fig.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 333. Philautus, who euer as yet but played with the bait, was now stroke with the hooke.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 168. That hooke of Wiuing, Fairenesse, which strikes the eye.

1647.  Digges, Unlawf. Taking Arms, § 4. 157. They are contented to give Him line enough, being confident they can strike Him when they please.

1651.  Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, Summer x. 129. The hook hath strook their nostrils and they shall never escape the ruine.

1660.  Dryden, Astræa Redux, 171. He like a patient Angler er’e he strooke, Would let them play a while upon the hook.

1662.  R. Venables, Exper. Angler, iv. 44. If you strike a large Trout, and she … break hook or line.

1688.  [see spring-hook s.v. SPRING sb.¹ 25].

1760.  Sir J. Hawkins, Walton’s Angler, 171, note. You are to strike as soon as he has taken it [sc. the bait].

1881.  Sportsman’s Year-bk., 69. To try a roach rod’s integrity to strike truly, place the rod on a table, and [etc.].

1892.  Field, 19 March, 402/1. The troutlings have to be struck sharply…. High authorities say that salmon should not be struck at all.

  34.  To hit with a missile, a shot, etc. Also said of the missile. Also with adv. or phrase (expressing the result). Now somewhat rare.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 77. With stones men shulde hir stryke and stone hir to deth.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 804. Many starand stanes strikis of þaire helmes.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12151. Scho … with stonys in þe strete strok hom to ground.

1557.  W. Towrson, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 114. We found 2 Elephants which we strooke diuers time with harquebusses.

1587.  T. Saunders, Discr. Voy. Tripolie, B ij b. And the second shot he strake vs vnder water.

1589.  Hakluyt, Voy., 773. With one of our great shot their Master gonners shoolder was stroken away.

1662.  A. Cooper, Stratologia, VI. 118. A Cannon bullet stroke off Sandies head.

1822.  Examiner, 215/1. Ali himself was struck down by a bullet.

1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vi. 210. P. fired, striking him in the centre of the chest and killing him.

1865.  Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 41. A group of schoolboys have piled their little books upon a grave, to strike them off with stones.

  fig.  1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 462. Or like the deadly bullet of a gun: His meaning strucke her ere his words begun.

  b.  Curling. To hit (an opponent’s stone) away, off with one’s own. Also absol.

1811.  Acc. Game Curling, 8. He attempts to strike away the stone of his antagonist. Ibid. To guard the stone of his partner … or to strike off that of his antagonist.

a. 1870.  D. Thomson, Musings among Heather (1881), 20. Keen curlers … draw, an’ guard, an’ wick, an’ strike.

  c.  intr. Or a missile: To make a hit. ? Obs.

1589.  Bigges, Summarie Drake’s W. Ind. Voy., 43. The first shot … strake through the Ensigne.

1627.  May, Lucan, VI. K 5 b. In the left eye Of Scæua strucke the shaft.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 70. If the first Shot had struck under the Mark.

  35.  intr. To use one’s weapons: to fight. Also with cognate obj. Const. for (a cause, one’s king or country, etc.). Also, † to strike it out.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 58. The stoutest Souldier, when the Trumpet sounds, strikes fiercest.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, VIII. 137. Both sides so soundly stroke it out, right doubtful was the fray.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 308. His present gift Shall furnish me to those Italian fields Where noble fellowes strike.

1601.  R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 39. They were never known … to mutine or to strike stroke amongst themselves.

1825.  Scott, Talism., ix. He despairs of the security of Palestine … since the arm of Richard of England hath ceased to strike for it.

1842.  W. C. Taylor, Anc. Hist., xii. § 1 (ed. 3), 312. [Cleomenes] followed by a few friends rushed through the streets of Alexandria, exhorting the multitude to strike for freedom.

1847.  Marryat, Childr. N. Forest, xxi. I should indeed like to strike one blow for the King, come what will.

1889.  S. Walpole, Life Ld. John Russell, II. xxviii. 314. Austria, though too angry to be silent, was too timid to strike.

  b.  trans. To fight (a battle). Also, to strike up. Chiefly Sc. Cf. STRICKEN ppl. a. 6.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XIII. 152. Thar wes the battell strikyn weill.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, X. 245. Quhen Bruce his battaill apon the Scottis straik.

1524.  Wolsey, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 281. If bataile be not striken before the receipt of thies letters … ye shal [etc.].

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Macc. xv. 1. When Nicanor knew that Iudas was in … Samaria, he thought with all his power to strike a felde with him vpon a Sabbath daye.

1544.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VIII. 292. Item, to ane barbour in Glasqw, eftir the feild strikkin on the mure of the samyn.

1570.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), 372 b/1. And so the battaile beyng strocken vp, the armyes began to ioyne.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 54. When Cressy Battell fatally was strucke.

1606.  Holland, Sueton., 88. Claudius Pulcher … thereupon strucke a battaile at Sea.

1710.  Sibbald, Fife & Kinross, I. vii. 28. This Battel was struck with great Art and Skill upon either side.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xii. ‘The battle of Bosworth,’ said Master Mumblazen, ‘stricken between Richard Crookback and Henry Tudor.’

1834.  H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xi. (1857), 160. The day the battle of Killiecrankie was stricken.

  c.  intr. To engage together in combat.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 785. Now aithire stoure on þar stedis strikis to-gedire.

c. 1440.  Generydes, 2793. Generides ther mette … The Kyng Ruben, Redy with spere and sheld, And ther they strake to geder in the feld.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, III. vii. 107. [They] stroke to gyders myghtely.

  d.  Mil. To make an offensive blow, to attack. Const. with at. Also trans. to attack (in flank, etc.): cf. sense 68.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. viii. 3. Strike not by Land, Keepe whole, prouoke not Battaile Till we haue done at Sea.

1802.  C. James, Milit. Dict., s.v., To strike at, to attack; to endeavour to destroy, directly or indirectly.

1839.  Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 231. To strike means to attack. ‘The Indians have struck on the frontier.’

1866.  Sir T. Seaton, Cadet to Colonel, II. iii. 85. Lord Canning thought it advisable to strike a blow at Barrackpoor before the mutiny at Lucknow should become known.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 2 Jan., 10/2. [He] divided his forces, struck where there was no use in striking, failed to strike at the essential point.

1893.  Pall Mall Mag., II. 302. The French centre … was marching to strike it in flank.

  36.  trans. With transferred object.

  a.  To deliver a blow with (the hand or something held in the hand), to bang, slap (the fist, hand), to stamp (the foot) on, upon, against. Also, to strike a horse with (the spur). Const. to, against (cf. 50).

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 160. [He] entered into London,… strykyng his sworde on London stone, saiyng: now is Mortymer lorde of this citie.

1595.  Shaks., John, IV. i. 2. When I strike my foot Vpon the bosome of the ground, rush forth. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 44 (Qo. 1600). He … strooke his armed heeles Against the panting sides of his poore iade, Vp to the rowell head.

1678.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., v. 76. If with often striking the Pricker against the Tongue [of the Square] it becomes ragged.

1820.  Scott, Monast., xxv. The Baron, striking his hand against the table, as if impatient of the long unbroken silence.

1862.  Temple Bar, V. 70. He struck the stock of his gun violently upon the ground.

1884.  Graphic, 25 Oct., 438/3. ‘That’s a thing I’ll think about,’ rejoined the Baronet, as he struck spurs to his hack.

  † b.  To drive or thrust (a weapon, a tool); to make a cut or thrust with. Const. into, through.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, II. 99. A felloun knyff fast till his hart straik he.

1556.  Rec. Inverness (New Spald. Club), I. 1. James Patyrson messenger strykis ane broch on Hendre Kar elder.

1590.  Webbe, Trav. (Arb.), 33. And stricke their sworde into their flesh like vnto a Scabbard.

c. 1614.  Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, III. 387. The cursed blaide … Which in her breast vnto the hilts she strak.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 296. Unskilfully striking the Fleam into a Horse’s Neck.

1748.  [see FLEAM sb.¹ 2].

  transf. and fig.  1598.  Brandon, Octavia, III. D 3. In these respects, perhaps I could be brought, To strike reuenge as deepe as any could.

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 209. The Bitturn lying under, strikes his bill upward through the Hawkes gorge.

  c.  To cause (a tool, etc.) to make the required stroke. In Bookbinding, To cause (a hot tool) to make an impression in tooling (Webster, 1911).

1600.  Sir W. Cornwallis, Ess., I. xi. G 4 b. A Clocke, whose hammer was stricken by an Image like a man.

1845.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VI. II. 255. The workman strikes the instrument towards the standing corn.

1877.  De Vinne, Invent. Printing (ed. 2), 517. It required great force … to strike the punch truly.

  † d.  To thrust (something pointed) in, into (a surface). Obs.

1570–6.  Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 282. Yet God (I say) styre vp some Edgar, to strike nayles in our cuppes.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. iii. 15. Bedlam beggers, who with rearing voices, Strike in their num’d and mortified Armes, Pins, Wodden-prickes, Nayles, Sprigs of Rosemarie.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 345. Hee strake his staffe into the dry ground.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 10. Pegs struck into the ground.

  † e.  pass. To be stuck full of (nails). Obs.

1610.  Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, I. xiv. 24. Shutting him in a narrow barrell, strucken all full of sharpe nayles.

  ** Said of an animal.

  37.  Of a serpent or other venomous animal: To wound (a person) with its fangs or sting. Also absol. † Of a basilisk: To kill or injure (a person), dart out (venom) by its glance.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, x. (Mathou), 67. Þai cuth, be þare enchawnment, ger serpentis strik men ful sare.

1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov. (1552), 3. A certayne fysherman … chaunced to take up … a Scorpyon, which forthwith strake hym.

1592.  Greene, Philomela, Wks. (Grosart), XI. 152. He stood as mortified as if hee had been strocken with the eye of a Baselisk.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 151. Would they were Basiliskes, to strike thee dead.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents, 44. If that anie person hath either been wounded or strooken of any venomous liuing thing.

1617.  Bp. Hall, Quo Vadis? § 15. How many haue wee knowne stroken with these aspes, which haue died sleeping!

1621.  Quarles, Esther, xii. Whose … visage sternly strikes Worse venime to mine eyes, than Basilisks.

1635–56.  Cowley, Davideis, IV. 601. If … either King Fall wounded down, strook with some fatal sting.

1837.  [Miss Maitland], Lett. fr. Madras (1843), 163. Their music seems to irritate the snakes and incite then to strike.

1893.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., X. 285/1. A hideous snake … had uplifted its triangular head to strike.

  38.  To wound or attack with the heels, horns, tusks, claws, or any natural weapon. Also absol. Now rare.

1538.  Elyot, Dict., Recalcitro, to stryke with the heele, to kicke.

1600.  E. Blount, trans. Conestaggio, 307. Sanches d’Auila died, being stroke with a horse.

1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., I. iii. I. iii. (1624), 170. A wild boare, that by chance stroke him on the legge.

1705.  Dalton, Country Justice, cxlv. 344. If a man hath an Horse of that property, that he will strike such as come near him.

1716.  W. Hawkins, Pleas of Crown, I. xxix. § 12. 74. He … who kills another … by going deliberately with a Horse used to strike … among a Multitude of People.

1722.  Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), VII. 386. Having lost his Life by being struck by a Cow.

1883.  Fenn, Middy & Ensign, lvi. The tiger had struck the Malay down.

1892.  M. C. F. Morris, Yorksh. Folk-Talk, 382. Cu’ by, or else t’ hoss ’ll mebbe strike tha.

  b.  intr. To aim a blow with a natural weapon; to lash out (with the feet, etc.).

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Calcitro, a horse that flingeth or striketh.

1667.  Dk. Newcastle, New Method to dress Horses, 184. Or when … he offers to Bite or Strike, then the Spurrs will Divert him.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 378. They strike with their claws, they bite each other.

1803.  Shaw, Zool., IV. I. 128. If accidentally trodden on, it strikes backwards … and endeavours to wound the aggressor with the spines of its first dorsal fin.

1822.  D. Johnson, Ind. Field Sports, 107. Not long before this, he [the tiger] must have struck at a porcupine, as several of the quills were still remaining between the joints of one of his fore feet.

1893.  Pall Mall Mag., II. 88. The giraffe has, too, a nasty habit … of striking out with its fore feet.

  39.  trans. † a. Of a bird of prey, esp. a falcon: To dart at and seize (its quarry or prey). Also intr. to dart at.

a. 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxxiii. 99. The egill strong at him did stryke.

1632.  Holland, Cyrupædia, 53. An Ægle … having espied the Hare running, made wing, strake her, caught her up, and away.

1687.  Norris, Misc., 101. So th’ eager Hawk makes sure of’s prize, Strikes with full might, but overshoots himself and dyes.

1736.  Hale, Pleas of Crown, I. 432. As laying an infant in an orchard,… whereby a kite strikes it.

1738.  Albin, Nat. Hist. Birds, III. 1. The Vulture … is a fierce bold Bird, and will strike at any thing that comes near him.

1879.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, IV. vii. 83. His hawk was striking the quarry.

  b.  Of a greyhound: To seize (the hare) in coursing. Cf. STRIKER 2 f.

1861.  H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, xiii. But Ruin! you should see him lie behind the other dog all the run, and strike the hare at last.

  c.  intr. Of a fish: To seize the bait.

1891.  Field, 21 Nov., 774/2. Then another fish struck, but only to graze and kill the bait.

1902.  S. E. White, Blazed Trail, xviii. He whipped the fly lightly within six inches of a little Suction hole; a fish at once rose and struck.

  *** Said of mechanism or the like.

  40.  intr. Of a piece of mechanism: To make a stroke, hit or beat something.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 281. Where thou didst vent thy groanes As fast as Mill-wheeles strike.

1725.  T. Thomas, in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 103. A very large fire engine for draining the coal pits … strikes (as they term it) or makes a discharge fourteen times in one minute.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 883. These … finish the grooving … at a single blow, by striking against each other, with the head of the needle between them.

1892.  J. Wilkins, Autobiog. Gamekeeper, 330. Particular attention should be paid to the striking of the trap, which ought to strike high, and strike quickly.

1907.  J. H. Patterson, Man-Eaters of Tsavo, viii. 87. On extracting the unexploded cartridge, I found that the needle had not struck home.

  b.  trans.

1787.  Burns, Death & Dr. Hornbook, xxxi. The auld kirk-hammer strak the bell Some wee, short hour ayont the twal.

  41.  intr. and trans. with cognate obj. Of a clock: To make one or more strokes on its sounding part. Hence trans. to indicate (the hour of day) by a stroke or strokes; also with object a numeral designating the hour. Rarely with out.

1417.  York Memor. Bk. (Surtees), I. 184. Efter xij of the clok be strekyn at the cathiderall church.

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIX. (Percy Soc.), 140. Passyng the tyme … Tyll that the clocke did strike aleven.

1529.  Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1871), 7. Quhill xij houris be struikin.

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 111. Thy tong should be a clocke…, For than would it strike but once in one hower.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., I. ii. 45. The clocke hath strucken twelue vpon the bell.

1617.  Bacon, Sp., Resusc. (1657), 86. Every Tuesday … after nine a Clock strucken.

1629.  Wadsworth, Pilgr., iii. 18. Till the clocke and our stomackes strike supper time.

1675.  J. S[mith], Horol. Dial., I. ii. 10. A moving wheel … indented … according to the number of strokes at each time to be strucken.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., I. 54. The bell strikes One.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. VII. vii. Four of the afternoon is struck.

1860.  Sala, Baddington Peerage, I. v. 100. The neighbouring church clock struck out twelve slowly.

1864.  Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 234. A clock made to strike fourteen every hour.

1878.  Bye-gones, Dec., 147/1. Striking the day of the month.—This practice, according to the Gents: Mag: for Sep. 1816, was in vogue in Pembroke at that period.

1892.  Mrs. H. Wood, in Argosy, March, 180. It struck four.

1902.  R. Bagot, Donna Diana, xxvi. 331. Counting the hours as the clocks struck in the different quarters of the city.

  b.  intr. in passive sense. Of the hour: To be indicated by the striking of the clock.

a. 1417.  York Memor. Bk. (Surtees), I. 224. Fra evynsang ryng … on to the morne that prime stryke at the mynster.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., V. i. 1. Gard. It’s one a clocke Boy, is’t not. Boy. It hath strooke.

1787.  Mrs. Inchbald, Midnt. Hour, III. i. (1788), 28. I will sit up ’till twelve strikes.

1850.  H. Melville, White Jacket, I. xxiii. 146. Two bells struck; and soon after, all who could be spared from their stations hurried to the half-deck.

  c.  fig.

  Phrase. To strike twelve the first time or all at once (see TWELVE 2 b).

1589.  Pasquil’s Ret., B iiij. The Preachers of England begin to strike and agree like the Clockes of England.

1605.  1st Pt. Jeronimo, I. i. This day my years strike fiftie.

1606.  Heywood, 2nd Pt. Know not me, I. i. A merchants tongue Should not strike false.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., II. i. 13.

1628.  Earle, Macrocosm., Stayed Man, K 3 b. One whose Tongue is strung vp like a Clocke till the time, and then strikes, and sayes much when hee talkes little.

1684.  Norris, Poems, 5. That Hour is come, The unerring Clock of Fate has struck.

1893.  Pall Mall Mag., II. 201. He would have his time of danger after striking sixty.

1912.  G. W. E. Russell, Politics & Pers., III. i. (1917), 201. Princess Victoria had now struck sixteen.

  d.  intr. Of a bell: To sound its note.

1677.  Stedman, Campanalogia, 32. By delaying its [sc. the treble’s] striking until the Second Bell has struck, it may by that means strike next after it.

1901.  H. E. Bulwer, Gloss. Techn. Terms Ch. Bells, 36. When two or more bells are ‘striking’ in succession.

  e.  causatively. To cause (a clock, a repeating watch) to sound the time; to cause (bells) to sound together.

1675.  J. S[mith], Horol. Dial., II. v. 55. To do this strike your Clock gradually from eight to nine, and then from nine to ten, [etc.].

1748.  Chesterf., Lett. to Son, 22 Feb. Wear your learning, like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one.

1854.  Surtees, Handley Cr., xxxix. (1901), II. 19. ‘Wants twenty minutes to six,’ observed Mr. Marmaduke, striking the repeater.

1893.  National Observer, 18 Nov., 17/1. I struck my repeater again, and found that midnight was past by two hours.

1901.  H. E. Bulwer, Gloss. Techn. Terms Ch. Bells, etc. 37. Firing, striking all the bells together at successive pulls. Ibid. The bells were ‘clammed’ or struck together by successive pairs.

  42.  intr. Of the pulse, heart: To beat, pulsate, throb. rare.

1590.  Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. xv. (1639), 24. Their pulse is great and striketh seldome.

1666.  G. Harvey, Morbus Angl., ix. (1672), 20. And the mind all that while so disturbed … that the heart strikes five hundred sorts of Pulses in an hour.

1891.  Meredith, One of our Conq., III. xiv. 295. His heart struck heavily when the house was visible.

  **** Of natural or supernatural agencies.

  43.  trans. Of lightning, thunder, a thunderbolt: To descend violently upon and blast (a person or thing). Freq. in pass., constr. by, with, rarely of. Also to strike down.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xli. (Agnes), 312. He gert thonnir & fire-slacht stirk done þe payanis þar stracht.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxi. 140. We ware oft tymes striken doune to þe erthe with grete hidous blastez.

1563.  Fulke, Goodly Gallery Meteors (1571), 28. The thonder bolt … stryketh downe steples, and hyghe buildynges.

1586.  Lupton, Thous. Notable Th. (1675), 122. Bodies that are strucken with Lightening do remain uncorrupt.

1605.  B. Jonson, Volpone, III. vii. (1607), H 2. Some serene blast me, or dire lightning strike This my offending face.

1663.  Bayfield, Treat. De Morb. Capitis, 67. Cardanus reports of eight Mowers, which supping under an Oak were struck with thunder.

a. 1718.  Prior, Engraven on a Column, Poems (1905), 206. Tho’ Lightning strike the Dome again.

1808.  Med. Jrnl., XIX. 121. The house had been struck with lightning.

1865.  Swinburne, Poems & Ball., Satia te Sanguine, 37. I wish you were stricken of thunder.

  fig.  1588.  Greene, Metam., Wks. (Grosart), IX. 102. Till I be strooken to death with loues thundering bolt.

  b.  with compl. to strike dead, blind.

1598.  Yong, Diana, 261. Seeing the faithfull Mastie harde by his side stroken dead with a fearefull thunderclap.

1750.  Franklin, Wks. (1840), V. 237. Lightning has often been known to strike people blind.

1890.  W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., III. xxxiii. 205. That flash … had struck me blind.

  c.  absol. and intr.

1750.  Franklin, Wks. (1840), V. 236. Electrified clouds passing over hills or high buildings at too great a height to strike, may be attracted lower.

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 231. Which may result from the lightning striking upon a house not properly secured.

1884.  Science, 4 Jan., 3/1. There are no data for determining the … violence of lightning … or for discovering its possible preference for one or another … geological district when it ‘strikes.’

  44.  trans. Of God: To visit with lightning, esp. as a punishment. Also, to strike dead.

1577.  Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Euseb., VII. xvii. 133. Therefore God strooke Iulianus image from heauen with lightening and rent it in peeces.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 64. Either Heau’n with Lightning strike the murth’rer dead: Or Earth gape open wide, and eate him quicke.

1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 188. Then for his crown th’ old trembling souldier took An helmet, and at great Jove’s altar strook, Fell like an ox.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, VI. 804. But he, the King of Heav’n,… launching from the Sky His writhen Bolt,… Down to the deep Abyss the flaming Felon strook.

  b.  Of a storm, earthquake, etc.: To ‘visit’ (a district, crop).

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xvii. 172. Swa mony stommes at onis Struke neuer land sa sair.

1613.  Spelman, De non Temer. Eccl. (1646), 30. When thy fruit and thy vineyard are strucken with haile.

1830.  Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 438. The island of St. George was struck by an earthquake.

  45.  To bring suffering or death upon (a person, etc.) as with a blow; to afflict suddenly (with, by sickness, infirmity, death), esp. as a punishment. Also, to strike down. (Said chiefly of God or a deity.)

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxii. (Justin), 287. [The master devil said] sic lustful het sal be hir in, & eftyr hyr stirke sal I nere wodnes & frenesy.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/1. You shall se God stryke them when he seys hys tyme.

1549–62.  Sternhold & H., Ps. lxxviii. 66. With Emrods in the hinder parts he strake his enimies all.

1563.  Winȝet, Four Scoir Thre Quest., Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 127. Ananias and Saphira wes strukin be ane word of Petir to the deth.

1580.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 83. For lamb, pig and calfe … tithe so as thy cattle the Lord doo not strike.

a. 1591.  H. Smith, Serm. (1594), 333. When God stroke Zacharias, he made him dumbe, but not deafe.

c. 1610.  Women Saints, 82. God in defence of his spouse [St. Frideswide] stroke them with blyndnes.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., V. i. 10. Gods,… so had you saued The noble Imogen, to repent, and strooke Me (wretch) more worth your Vengeance.

1711.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 123. He strikes … where the sinner least dreames to be strucken.

1870.  J. Bruce, Gideon, iii. 59. Heavily the hand of the Lord had stricken him.

  absol.  a. 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lxx. 33. Lord! hald thy hand, that strikken hes so soir.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 22. This sorrow’s heauenly, It strikes, where it doth loue.

a. 1605.  Montgomerie, Sonn., vii. 7. Quhen ȝe sulde stryk, I wald ȝe vnderstude; Quhen ȝe suld spair, I wish ȝe were bening.

  b.  Of a disease, etc.: To attack or afflict (a person) suddenly; to make infirm, lay low. Chiefly pass. To be attacked by, with (a disease). Also, to strike down.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/2. He was stryken with the plage as he stode in his dore.

1601.  W. Leigh, Soules Solace (1617), 21. It may be some goe to bed who neuer rise, strooken with a deadly sleepe or lethargie.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. i. 13. Now the Red Pestilence strike al Trades in Rome.

1653.  H. More, Antid. Ath., III. vii. § 9 (1712), 107. She was so struck in her fits that six men or more could not hold her.

1789.  New Lond. Mag., Oct., 510/2. The Earl was struck with death while drinking his coffee.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. v. v. Hot old Marquis Mirabeau lies stricken down, at Argenteuil.

1860.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXI. II. 554. About 60 out of 280, chiefly shearlings, were struck with a chill.

1878.  R. H. Hutton, Scott, xvii. 174. The climate struck him down, and he died at Teheran.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, II. 199. The Duke had been stricken by paralysis.

  c.  transf.

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 236. And though thou now be stricke with couetise That vice shall slake in thee if thou arise, [etc.].

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 66. They are strucken with that pleasant folly of the Athenian who imagined all the riches … to be his.

1875.  Manning, Mission H. Ghost, viii. 212. Such, in the sight of God, is a soul which is struck by sin.

1891.  Speaker, 11 July, 36/2. The fear is … that public life may be stricken with sterility in consequence of this veto.

  d.  In passive. Of a crop, of cattle: To be tainted or infected with a disease.

1750.  W. Ellis, Mod. Husbandm., IV. i. 45. Wheat mildewed, blighted, or what we, in Hertfordshire, call struck. Ibid., IV. ii. 124 (E.D.S.). What we call striking, or, in plainer terms, the glutinizing of the green ears [of wheat], by the fall of … honey-dew.

1784.  Young’s Annals Agric., II. 65 (E.D.D.). [On the Weald of Kent] They have a distemper [in sheep] which they call struck with the blood.

1840.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. III. 327. They [lambs] have been struck with the fly late in the season. Ibid. (1842), III. II. 199. In a bad case of mildew I have seen a large field of these early swedes struck in July.

1877.  E. Leigh, Gloss. Chesh., Struck with iron, an apoplectic seizure to which sheep and cows (gen. previous to their calving) are liable. They turn black.

  46.  To deprive (a person) suddenly of life, or of one of the faculties, as if by a physical blow. Often with compl., as to strike dead, blind, deaf, dumb. Said of God, † of a planet (obs.: cf. PLANET-STRICKEN, -STRUCK), of witchcraft, etc., and of physical agencies, e.g., the sun, blinding light, or deafening noise. Also in passive, without implication of any definite agency: To become suddenly blind, dumb, etc.

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., I. iv. (1553), A viij. Sainct Paule was himselfe sore agaynst Chryst, tyll Christ … strake him starke blynde.

1595.  Problems of Aristotle, etc. M 2. Why are children strooken with a planet in the summer?

1595.  T. Edwards, Narcissus (Roxb.), 51. So was I gazing on this Orient Sunne Stroke blinde.

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. vii. Sure I was strooke with a Plannet then, for I had no power to touch my weapon.

1600.  W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 356. He [Peter] stricke them both [Ananias and Sapphira] dead at his feet.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 276. It is an old Tradition, that those that dwell near the Cataract of Nilus are strucken deaf.

a. 1628.  Daborne, Poor-man’s Comf., I. (1655), B 3. Osw. Some dismall planet strike you ever mute. Ibid., III. E 1 b. Luc. Some Planet strike him dead.

1636.  H. Burton, Div. Tragedie, 18. And before he had done ringing, he was strucke sicke, and a while after dyed.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 1064. Confounded long they sate, as struck’n mute.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. x. He’d got a great cold that had struck him deaf of one ear.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 144. A young Fellow … was struck blind all of a sudden.

  absol.  1601.  Shaks., Ham., I. i. 162. The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike,… nor Witch hath power to Charme.

  fig.  1592.  Nashe, P. Penilesse, Wks. 1904, I. 190. They, being but lightly sprinckled with the iuyce of the Hop, become sencelesse, and haue their reason strooken blind.

1600.  Marston, etc., Jack Drum’s Entert., II. C 4. Yet calme husht sleepe Strikes dumbe the snoring world.

1638.  Junius, Paint. Ancients, 209. The rule of eloquence being once corrupted was strooke dumbe.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. i. viii. Let the concentrated flash of your Patriotism strike stealthy Scoundrelism blind, paralytic, as with a coup de soleil.

  b.  hyperbolically, expressing the temporary effect of fear, amazement, etc., to strike † dead, dumb, etc.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. v. (S.T.S.), I. 36. Þis wncouth sicht movit … baith þe armes with sa petuus commiseratioun, þat baith þe hostis wer strikin dvm.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. ii. 21. Alas, this parting strikes poore Louers dumbe.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., XIV. ii. (1622), 201. Nero stroken dead with feare [L. pavore exanimis].

1607.  Chapman, Bussy D’Ambois, IV. i. Mons. Sweet heart: come hither, what if one should make Horns at Mountsurry? would it strike him iealous Through all the proofes of his chaste Ladies vertues?

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, II. ii. Her beauty will certainly strike me dumb.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. iv. Next day marching it back again, through streets all struck silent.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. iv. Fascination Fledgeby and Georgiana … struck each other speechless.

  c.  Vulgarly used in jocular forms of imprecation, as strike me blind, dumb, lucky (if, but—), and various nonce-phrases.

1696.  Vanbrugh, Relapse, I. iii. Well, ’tis an unspeakable Pleasure to be a man of Quality—Strike me dumb.

1704.  Cibber, Careless Husb., II. i. 19. Right, Charles: And strike me Blind, but the Women of Virtue are now grown such Ideots in Love … that [etc.].

1835.  Dickens, Sk. Boz, Charac., ix. Whereupon the two gentlemen swore, ‘strike ’em wulgar if they’d stand that.’ Ibid., Tales, x. Strike me bountiful if you ain’t one of the modest sort!

1849.  Cupples, Green Hand, i. (1856), 9. Well, strike me lucky, mates all, if the whole affair warn’t a complete trap!

1861.  Whyte-Melville, Market Harb., i. The very place!… Strike me ugly, if I won’t go to Market Harborough!

1896.  Punch, 25 April, 197/1. The caddie nearest me said ‘Strike me,’ under his breath, and another caddie said ‘S’elp me.’

  d.  To turn as by enchantment into.

1609.  B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., I. ii. Strooke into stone, almost, I am here, with tales o’ thine vncle!

1641.  Brome, Joviall Crew, III. Wks. 1873, III. 396. O let us not Acteon-like be strook … into the shape of Stags.

1853.  Mrs. Gore, Dean’s Dau., xlii. III. 300. She looked stricken into stone.

  e.  In pa. pple. Bewitched; affected by the evil eye. Also struck so, suddenly rendered motionless (as if by enchantment) in a particular attitude or grimace. dial. and vulgar.

1839.  J. Keegan, Leg. & Poems (1907), 165. Whenever a child is suspected to be ‘struck,’ it is thought useless to apply to a medical person.

1851–61.  Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 65/2. Keeping their toes turned out, as if they had been ‘struck so,’ while taking their first dancing-lesson.

1862.  T. C. Croker, Fairy Leg. S. Irel. (ed. 2), 39. Just then she got a pain in the small of her back, and out through her heart, as if she was struck.

1881.  W. S. Gilbert, Patience, II. Maj. I can’t help thinking we’re a little stiff at it. It would be extremely awkward if we were to be ‘struck’ so.

1891.  Farmer, Slang, II. 163. To be Struck Comical (popular), to be astonished.

1912.  Chesterton, Manalive, 234. Dr. Cyrus Pym had remained for an unprecedented time with his eyes closed and his thumb and finger in the air. It almost seemed as if he had been ‘struck so,’ as the nurses say.

  47.  To prostrate mentally; in weaker sense, to shock, depress. Obs. exc. in To strike all of († on) a heap (colloq.): see HEAP sb. 5 e.

1598.  Bastard, Chrestol., III. vi. 56. The newes of Spanish wars, how wondrously, It strooke our heartes.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm. (Arb.), 26. Anotomies and other spectacles of Mortalitie haue hardened him, and hee’s no more struck with a Funerall then a Grauemaker.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 144. Being strucken and fearfully affrighted at this strange … spectacle.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time, I. ii. (1897), I. 45. This struck many of the enthusiasts of the king’s side as much as it exalted the Scots.

1786.  Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. & Corr. (1862), III. 392. He informed her of the whole affair. The Queen stood struck and motionless for some time.

1791.  W. Gilpin, Forest Scenery, II. 282. On running to him, he was struck with finding he had killed one of the best horses of his own team.

  † b.  To cause (a person) to fall suddenly in, into, on, to (grief, perplexity, anger, amazement, etc.). Also with compl. as to strike sad (freq. in Shaks.), to strike astound. Obs.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 166. A man of Egipte was stryken in-to a luste with his neghbur wyfe.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 282 b. He was stricken in fear of y^e courageous stomake of the freashe young manne.

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet., 37. But altogether stricken in a dumpe, you seke to be solitarye.

1563.  Foxe, A. & M., 14/1. Which when Hildebrandus harde, he was stroken in suche a fury, that scharsly he could kepe his hands of him.

1582.  N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xvii. 23. And they were stroken sadde exceedingly.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 262. Which strooke her sad,… Vntill her husbands welfare shee did heare.

1606.  N. B[axter], Sydney’s Ourania, M 3. Whose suddaine view, strook him to such amaze, As marueling a while did naught but gaze.

1640.  J. Gower, Ovid’s Festiv., IV. 82. The wonder strikes them all astound.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War (1905), 285. At this they were all of them struck into their dumps, and could not tell what to say.

1711.  in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 143. This loss of the artillery struck the Prince … into a great fury.

1853.  Lytton, My Novel, XII. xxvii. The brave man saw before him … that crime of a coward; and into cowardice he was stricken.

  c.  To cause (a person) to be overwhelmed or seized with (terror, amazement, grief; rarely delight, love). Also of the feeling: To seize.

  In 16th c. sometimes of a deity (cf. 46); usually of incidents, things seen or heard.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. xxi. (S.T.S.), I. 120. Throw quhilk þe king was strikin [v.r. stirkin] haistelie with na les fere þan hevy thocht.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 189 b. Alexander beeyng rauyshed with the sight of her, was soodainly striken with hotte burnyng loue.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. vi. 118. O deerest Soule: Your Cause doth strike my hart With pitty, that doth make me sicke.

1616.  W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. v. 130. Amazement strucke the multitude.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 1644. Such other tryal I mean to shew you of my strength … As with amaze shall strike all who behold.

1726.  Swift, Gulliver, III. x. 129. I freely own my self to have been struck with inexpressible Delight upon hearing this Account.

1774.  Burke, Sp. Amer. Tax., Wks. 1842, I. 164. Any of these innumerable regulations, perhaps, would not have alarmed alone;… the multitude struck them with terrour.

1777.  Potter, Æschylus, Prometh. Chain’d, 18. It is a sight that strikes my friends with pity.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxxix. He was struck with shame at having given way, to such a paroxysm.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxi. Rebecca’s appearance struck Amelia with terror.

  d.  To cause (a feeling, etc.) to fall or come suddenly. Const. into, † in, † to.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abus., Cij. The maiestrats also … may were … costlie ornaments … to dignifie their callings … therby to strike a terroure & feare into the harts of the people.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. iii. 24. It cannot be, this weake and writhled schrimpe Should strike such terror to his Enemies.

1594.  O. B., Quest. Profit. Concern., 18 b. This would haue stroken such a present ioy into his heart, to heare me give sentence on such impenitent castawaies.

1611.  Second Maiden’s Trag., 2444. Her Constancy strikes so much firmnes in vs.

1651.  trans. Wotton’s Panegyr. K. Chas., Reliq. W. 142. Afterwards at a solemn Tilting, I became uncertain whether you strook into the beholders more Ioy or Apprehension.

1659.  W. Chamberlayne, Pharonnida, V. v. (1820), 92. Which … through the sad spectator’s eye Struck such a terror.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, I. 199. [He] struck Terror and Amazement, throughout the whole Empire.

1859.  Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, ii. He … might at any moment show himself to them in some way that would strike anguish and penitence into their hearts.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 83. His appearance will strike terror into his enemies.

  VI.  To make a vigorous movement (as if striking a blow).

  48.  intr. To make a stroke with the limbs in swimming. Also to strike forward, out. Also trans. in to strike a stroke.

1660.  R. Wild, Iter Bor., 9. [He] Flings out his arms and strikes some strokes to swim.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 45. Finding the Water had spent it self,… I strook forward against the Return of the Waves.

1745.  Pococke, Descr. East, II. I. ix. 36. It bore me up in such a manner, that when I struck in swimming, my legs were above the water.

1851.  Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., I. x. 80. Through the blue Immense, Strike out all swimmers!

1861.  Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., ii. His first impulse on rising to the surface … was to strike out for the shore.

1888.  ‘Sarah Tytler,’ Blackhall Ghosts, II. xxi. 183. He slid from his footing, struck out, and swam for a few yards.

  fig.  1880.  Goldw. Smith, Pessimism, in Atlantic Monthly, Feb., 210. Good men striking out against the everflowing current of evil and indifference.

  b.  To make a stroke with one’s oar. † Also trans.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., XIII. 95. At once they bend, and strike their equal oars.

1789.  New Lond. Mag., Sept., 462/2. The boatmen … struck their oars and pushed on.

1892.  Sporting Life, 26 March, 7/5. At this point a spurt of 8 strokes was indulged in, the rate of striking being 37 to the minute.

  49.  Of a horse: To put down his fore feet short, close, etc.

1683.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1844/8. [He] strikes but little on a pace, but trots and gallops well. Ibid. (1691), No. 2727/4. Lost…, a dark brown Gelding,… strikes close before apt to cut.

1850.  ‘H. Hieover’ (C. Brindley), Pract. Horsemanship, 51. He will find his horse occasionally strike short,—that is, put down his fore feet perhaps a yard short of his usual stroke or stride.

  b.  trans. Of a horse: To alter his pace into (a faster movement). Also intr. To quicken his pace into. Also causatively to put (a horse) into a quicker pace.

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., iii. No sooner had the horses struck a canter than [etc.].

1823.  Examiner, 416/1. He struck his horses into a gallop.

1861.  Temple Bar, II. 71. The horses had struck into a quick sharp trot.

  50.  trans. To thrust (the hand, etc.) with a sudden movement; to impel as with a blow. Cf. 36 a. Also to strike out, together. Also intr.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 478. [The lion] laying downe his eares, and striking his taile betwixt his legges, like a curre-dogge.

1827.  Scott, Surg. Dau., i. So saying, he struck the forefinger of his right hand against a paper which he held.

1865.  Meredith, Rhoda Fleming, xxxii. He struck out his right arm deprecatingly.

1885.  ‘E. F. Byrrne’ (Emma Frances Brooke), Entangled, I. I. viii. 128. The colonel struck his fingers together.

1892.  Temple Bar, March, 314. He struck a quick hand through a thick bundle of papers.

  51.  intr. To move quickly, dart, shoot. Also fig.

1639.  S. Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 175. Hee doubted no more of that truth which strooke into his eyes.

1719.  Young, Busiris, IV. i. A sudden pain … struck across my heart.

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 307. Some unaccountable sparks of fire seemed to strike up and down the hedges.

1855.  Lynch, Rivulet, XV. iii. Upward the growing twilight strikes, The morning has begun.

  † b.  To pass suddenly, ‘burst,’ into (a condition). Obs.

1674.  Govt. Tongue, iii. 14. Atheism … has struck on a sudden into such reputation, that it scorns any longer to sculk.

  c.  To start suddenly into (a song, tune).

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xl. The Jester next struck into another carol.

1892.  Stevenson & L. Osbourne, Wrecker, vii. 109. The musicians … struck into a skittish polka.

  d.  To thrust oneself suddenly or vigorously into (a quarrel, debate, a joint action).

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, ii. He sees no brawl but he must strike into the midst of it.

1850.  Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., i. (1872), 39. Here is work for you; strike into it with manlike, soldierlike obedience.

1879.  McCarthy, Own Times, III. xxxix. 190. He could not strike into a debate actually going on.

1883.  Frances M. Peard, Contrad., xvii. Atherton … struck into the conversation again.

  e.  trans. (= strike into) in certain phrases. To strike an attitude: see ATTITUDE 2. † To strike a bustle: to make a commotion.

1825.  Cobbett, Rur. Rides, 187. I got up, struck a bustle, got up the ostler, set off, [etc.].

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, lvi. At the end of this quotation in dialogue, each gentleman struck an attitude.

  52.  intr. a. Of light: To pierce through (a medium), break through (clouds, darkness). Also fig.

1563.  Fulke, Goodly Gallery Meteors (1571), 36. Y^e sunn striking through a sixe pointed stoone, called Iris.

1641.  Milton, Reform., I. 6. The bright and blissfull Reformation … strook through the black and settled Night of Ignorance and Anti-christian Tyranny.

1797.  Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., Frenchm. T. (1799), I. 295. As moonlight struck through the breaks, she put her head out of the window.

1908.  [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 43. When a lowering sun strikes through the blooms, and enhances their glories.

  b.  Of cold: To go through, penetrate to. lit. and fig. Also of the wind, something damp or cold, to strike chill, damp, etc.; also trans.

1569.  W. Hubbard, Ceyx & Alcione, A iij. There strake: A chilnes straight vnto hir hart.

1656.  Cowley, Misc., Pref. The cold of the Countrey had strucken through all his faculties.

1841.  Browning, Pippa Passes, I. Poems (1905), 168/2. I rather should account the plastered wall A piece of him, so chilly does it strike.

1844.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. I. 101. In frosty weather the cold strikes through the slates.

1863.  W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vii. 279. I swam five rivers in pursuit, having on a pair of goatskin trousers, which struck me icy cold.

1887.  G. M. Robins, False Position, III. i. 9. May felt as if the cold were striking to her heart. Ibid., ix. 171. His cold voice struck misery into her heart.

1889.  Rider Haggard, Col. Quaritch, xli. The … damp of the place struck to his marrow.

1894.  A. St. Aubyn, Orchard Damerel, III. ii. 44. They [the rooms] now struck damp and chilly like a vault.

  c.  Of a disease: To pass inwards (leaving the surface or extremities). Cf. strike in, 81 d.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxviii. 363. When ostitis occupies the external table of the cranium, it seldom strikes inwards.

1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. ix. But as long as they [the measles] strikes out’ards, sir … they ain’t so much. It’s their striking in’ards that ’s to be kep off.

  53.  trans. a. To cause to penetrate, impart (life, warmth, dampness), to, into, through.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., III. iii. 97. The yonger Brother … Strikes life into my speech, and shewes much more His owne conceyuing.

1712.  J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 203. Vapours … strike a very great Dampness to the Wails of the Building.

1721.  Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 194. A Coat of Horse-Dung … for about six Weeks strikes a Warmth through the Boards.

1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XV. ii. You have struck a damp to my heart which has almost deprived me of being.

1890.  Mrs. H. Wood, House of Halliwell, II. ii. 24. The east wind had struck inflammation to the chest of a lovely child.

1890.  Conan Doyle, Firm of Girdlestone, xli. 322. His voice was so hollow and stern that it struck a chill into the girl’s heart.

  † b.  ? To send out or forth (a beam of light); to cause to impinge on (cf. 62 b). lit. and fig. Obs.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 419. In this, four Windows are contriv’d, that strike To the four Winds oppos’d, their Beams oblique. Ibid. (1697), Æneis, VIII. 35. So when the Sun by Day, or Moon by Night, Strike, on the polish’d Brass, their trembling Light.

1704.  Norris, Ideal World, II. iii. 246. To strike a through light into this whole matter at once.

  c.  To force (heat) into.

1677.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., i. 8. Wet the outside of the Fire to damp the outside, as well to save Coals, as to strike the force of the Fire into the inside.

  54.  Of a plant, cutting, etc.: To send down or out (its roots); to put forth (its root or roots).

1707.  Mortimer, Husb., 133. The best experienced Planters prefer October … that then the Hops will settle and strike Root against Spring.

1733.  W. Ellis, Chiltern & Vale Farm., 87. The hollow Earth … will … receive, nourish, and cause the same [seed] to strike its Radicle into it.

1851.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XII. II. 296. Grasses which strike their roots deep in the ground.

1859.  Jephson, Brittany, v. 57. The tree which strikes its roots and fibres most widely into the soil produces the most abundant fruit and foliage.

1886.  Encycl. Brit., XX. 174/1. The danthonia and sparobolus strike deep roots.

  fig.  1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 261, ¶ 5. The Passion should strike Root, and gather Strength before Marriage be grafted on it.

1893.  Traill, Social Eng., Introd. 45. The art of painting … had all the tenderness of an exotic. It struck no roots into our chilly soil.

  b.  intr. Of a plant, seed, cutting, piping, layer, etc.: To put forth roots. Of a root: To penetrate the soil. Also with advs. in, down.

1681.  Grew, Anat. Plants, 59. Some [roots] run Level,… Some strike down, but a little way,… others grow deep.

1766.  Complete Farmer, s.v. Saintfoin, There is some seed of which not one in ten will strike.

1800.  Trans. Soc. Arts, XVIII. 372. The cuttings of jasmine … strike with wonderful facility.

1841.  Florist’s Jrnl. (1846), II. 5. The pipings or layers … otherwise … will have become hard, and not strike quite so easily.

1841.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., II. I. 55. The roots … will strike down several feet. Ibid. (1847), VIII. I. 210. The roots will strike in deeper in search of nutriment.

1892.  Cassell’s Mag., Nov., 718/1. The chrysanthemum strikes so easily that, in order to get a dwarf plant, we merely take off the tops and strike them. Ibid., 718/2. In a very few days your young cuttings will have struck and commenced their growth.

  fig.  1769.  Junius Lett., xxxi. Believe me, sir, the precedent strikes deep.

1825.  New Monthly Mag., XIII. 94. The impression, if it takes root, strikes deep.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 30 Jan., 132/1. The taint strikes deeper.

  c.  transf. Of a young oyster: (see quot.).

1881.  E. Ingersoll, Oyster-Industr. (Hist. Fish. Industr. U.S.), 249. Strike, to become tenanted by living oysters; or when infant oysters attach themselves to any object they are said to ‘strike.’ (Staten Island.)

  d.  trans. To cause (a cutting, etc.) to root; to propagate (a plant) by means of a cutting, etc.

1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 251. In the case of plants which are not difficult to strike, a portion of the young shoot is cut off.

1891.  New Rev., Oct., 384. She says she can strike one of the flowers and make it grow into a plant.

  55.  To change the color of (a substance) by chemical action into (a specified color); to produce or assume (a specified color) by this means.

1664.  Power, Exp. Philos., I. 74. If into the Infusion of Violets you put … the oyl of Tartar … it will presently strike it into a green Tincture.

1670.  W. Simpson, Hydrol. Ess., 69. Artificial alom will not with galls strike a purple colour.

1682.  Grew, Anat. Plants, v. 277. There are very few Flowers that will strike into a Blew by any Liquor.

1686.  Plot, Staffordsh., 106. The water of the Well … though it will not turn milk, or strike with Galls, yet it takes not Soap.

1765.  Morris, Somersham Water, in Phil. Trans., LVI. 23. The water … still preserved its property of striking a blue and purple with galls.

1826.  Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 87. Salt of steel … causes a fine mantling head to the porter, and strikes a fine nut-brown colour over the froth.

1857.  Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., 280. A neutral solution of perchloride of iron strikes with morphia a very characteristic blue colour.

1862.  C. O’Neill, Dict. Calico Printing & Dyeing, 24/2. A … method of dyeing by means of bichromates … by which the logwood is ‘struck’ of an intense black and fixed.

1879.  Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 359. We have met with some [well-water] which struck a decided brown tinge after … contact with the nitrate.

  b.  transf. Of a young turkey: To strike the red (see quot.).

1867.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., Ser. II. III. II. 526. It is a critical time for young turkeys when the fleshy tubercles begin to appear on the head, generally termed striking the red.

  56.  a. trans. To cause (a color, dye) to take or sink in. b. intr. Of a dye: To sink in; also, to spread, run.

  a.  1769.  Mrs. Raffald, Eng. Housekpr. (1805), 40. Put a lump of butter in a cloth, and rub it [sc. a boiled lobster] over; it will strike the colour and make it look bright.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 642. [It] will enable the oxygen of the atmosphere to strike the dye more perfectly … into the materials.

  b.  c. 1790.  Imison, Sch. Art, II. 88. To stain Wood Red. Take archal one pound, add 1–4th oil of vitriol,… to make it strike deeper, add a little more oil of vitriol.

1835.  Hannett, Bibliopegia, 91. Each colour should be allowed to properly strike into the leather before another is used.

1873.  E. Spon, Workshop Rec., Ser. I. (1885), 321/2. Wash the shawl … in this [scouring] mixture…. Next rinse it in salt and water, in order to prevent the colours striking.

  57.  trans. To cause (herrings) to become impregnated with salt or (pork) with saltpetre in curing.

1780.  A. Young, Tour Irel., I. 239. Vessels for striking the herrings, that is, putting them in salt for 10 or 12 days.

1850.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XI. II. 589. The latter … is sometimes found a formidable difficulty in the way of good curing, or, as it is technically termed, striking the meat and taking the salt, the former term applying to saltpetre, and the latter to the common salt used.

  VII.  To impinge upon.

  58.  intr. Or a moving body: To impinge upon or come into collision or contact with something else. Const. on, upon, against.

[c. 1340, c. 1375:  see strike together, 85.]

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 957. There would be Triall also made, of holding a Ring by a Threed in a Glasse, and telling him that holdeth it, before, that it shall strike so many times against the side of the Glasse, and no more.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., III. iv. § 10. The Cartesians tell us, that Light is a great number of little Globules, striking briskly on the bottom of the Eye.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 88. Objects compress or strike upon the Extremities of the Nerves by their Motion.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., vi. (1842), 183. If, in passing through the funnel, some of the powder has struck against and adhered to the inside of the neck of the flask.

1858.  Lardner, Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., 102. When a liquid strikes upon a solid surface in an oblique direction.

1891.  Emily & Dor. Gerard, Sensitive Plant, III. III. xx. 204. The arm which had struck against the bridge was swollen.

1901.  Scotsman, 10 Sept., 7/1. There is a close connection between lunar darkness and the number of birds killed striking [against the glass of a lighthouse].

  fig.  1846.  T. T. Lynch, Lett. to Scattered (1872), 546. Cold words of argument strike upon the face, like a sleet shower.

  † b.  said of a moving shadow. Obs.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. xvi. 93. Hold up the Center until the Shade of the Brass-Pin strikes on the Sight and Line of E.

  † c.  To strike upward: to rebound. Obs.^–0

1530.  Palsgr., 740/2. I stryke upwarde, I rebounde…. Whan a thyng falleth strayght out of the ayre, it wyll stryke upwarde whan it falleth to the yerthe.

  59.  trans. To come into forcible contact or collision with.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 9. All Liquors strucken make round Circles.

1636.  Cowley, Sylva, 411. As when soft westwinds strooke the garden Rose.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, V. 683. She [the dove] leaves her Life aloft, she strikes the Ground.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1824), I. xxx. 244. This air strikes and affects the auditory nerves, which carry the sound to the brain.

1866.  ‘Capt. Crawley,’ Billiard Bk., iv. 46. Here you will see how a ball may be made to strike all six cushions.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Struck by a Sea, said of a ship when a high rolling wave breaks on board of her.

1882.  Encycl. Brit., XIV. 385/2. The drum is made to revolve…, the blunt edges and external angles of the knives thereby striking the surface of the leather.

1892.  J. G. McPherson, in Longm. Mag., July, 272. This rapid change in the direction of the lower current of air was caused by the wind striking the face of the mountain, which is here nearly vertical.

1899.  W. C. Morrow, Bohem. Paris, 49. His stool-legs were so loosened that when he sat down he struck the floor with a crash.

  b.  fig. (chiefly after Latin ferire cælum, sidera).

1605.  Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 6. Each new Morne, New Widdowes howle, new Orphans cry, new sorowes Strike heauen on the face, that it resounds [etc.].

1625.  T. H[awkins], Horace, Odes, I. i. (1638), 2. But let me stand a Lyrick mongst the rest, I’le strike the starry vault with raised crest.

1712–4.  Pope, Rape Lock, V. 42. Heroes’ and Heroines’ shouts confus’dly rise, And bass, and treble voices strike the skies.

1819.  Wiffen, Aonian Hours, 73. A loud shout thrice strikes the golden stars.

  † c.  With adv. or phrase expressing the result. Also, to make (a hole) by impact. Obs.

1530.  Palsgr., 739/2. I stryke ones foote out of joynt, je mets son pied hors du moulle.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. iv. 19. Me thought that Glouster stumbled, and in falling Strooke me (that thought to stay him) ouer-boord.

1601.  Strange Rep. Sixe Notorious Witches, A iij. He had such a fal, that the huckle bone of his thigh was stroken out of ioynt.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., II. 62. A great lake [= leak] was stricken into our Ship.

1751.  Affecting Narr. H.M.S. Wager, 20. One of our Men … had the Misfortune to be struck over-Board in handing the Fore-Sail.

  60.  spec. Of a ship: a. intr. To hit (on or upon a rock, etc.), to collide with a rock, run aground.

1518.  H. Watson, Hist. Oliver of Castile (Roxb.), E 3 b. Vpon the thyrde daye theyr shyp stroke on grounde, by so grete force that it claue in two pyeces.

1611.  Coverte, Voy., 23. And presently the ship strooke, which I presently went vp and told him of.

1669.  Dryden, Tempest, I. (1670), 4. Trinc. … There’s a Rock upon the Star-board Bow. Steph. She strikes, she strikes!

1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 17. The Ship struck abaft on a sunken Rock.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. To Strike, to run ashore, or to beat upon the ground in passing over a bank or shallow.

1890.  W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., III. xxviii. 89. The yacht had struck bow on.

  b.  trans. To hit or run upon (a rock, the ground, a mine).

1587.  James in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 792. This day we stroke a rocke.

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., III. 512. My sight clears, and I see his black bows strike The hidden skerry.

1913.  Times, 14 May, 5/5. The Portuguese cruiser … struck a rock near Dumbell Island.

  61.  Naut. To strike ground, soundings: to reach the bottom with a sounding line. Also transf. of a swimmer: To touch (bottom).

1726.  Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 66. I stood right in, the greatest part of the day, with intent to strike ground upon them [i.e., the shoals]

1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. vii. 214. We struck ground with sixty-five fathom of line.

1846.  A. Young, Naut. Dict., 289. To strike soundings, is to find bottom with the deep-sea-lead on coming in from sea.

1890.  W. Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., III. xxxiv. 238. Scarce had we struck soundings,… when a whole gale of wind blew down upon us.

  transf.  1885.  Mrs. Burton Harrison, in Century Mag., XXX. 735/1. Their steeds … now swimming, again striking bottom, and so until the hoofs of their leader struck the shore.

  b.  intr. Of water: To have (a specified depth) when sounded.

1858.  Merc. Marine Mag., V. 322. A … clear … channel appeared open, and … did not strike less than 64 fathoms.

  62.  trans. Of a beam or ray of light or heat: To fall on, catch, touch.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. xxvi. (1912), 504. The beames thereof so strake his eyes … that [etc.].

1598.  R. Haydocke, trans. Lomazzo, II. 154. By reason of the reflexion of the parte strooken with the light.

1789.  D. Davidson, Thoughts on Seasons, 69. In yon distant glade The Sun, refulgent, strikes the pearly stream.

1812.  Cary, Dante, Parad., ix. 66. In splendour glowing, Like choicest ruby stricken by the sun.

1903.  G. H. Lorimer, Lett. Self-Made Merch., xii. 184. So he leads the nag out into the middle of a ten-acre lot, where the light will strike him good and strong.

  b.  intr. Of light: To fall, impinge on.

1662.  Gerbier, Princ., 34. The Lights of the Stable strikes on the Horse their backs.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. viii. § 19. 58. Hinder light, but from striking on it, and its Colours vanish.

1808.  Scott, Marmion, IV. xxi. Full on his face the moonbeam strook.

1831.  Brewster, Optics, iii. 20. Having marked the point at which the ray from S strikes.

1892.  H. R. Mill, Realm of Nature, vii. 110. Twilight is produced when light from the Sun … strikes on the upper atmosphere.

  63.  trans. Of a sound, report, etc.: To fall on, reach or catch (the ear). † Also (? nonce-use) of an odor: To affect (the nostrils).

1596.  Drayton, Legends, Matilda, 122. Hauing his Eare oft strooke with this Report.

1603.  Florio, Montaigne, I. xii. 22. If the cracke of a musket do sodainly streeke mine eares, in a place where I least looke for it.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 421. Turne then my freshest Reputation to A sauour, that may strike the dullest Nosthrill Where I arriue.

1650.  Sir H. Newton, in Verney Mem. (1904), I. 464. The sound of your sadnesse first struck my eares at Flushing, but heere it strikes my heart to know the truth of it.

1741.  Watts, Improv. Mind, I. i. 25. So that the glance of an eye, or a word striking the ear … shall conduct you to a train of happy sentiments.

1805.  Wordsw., Fidelity, 15. Nor shout, nor whistle strikes his ear.

1891.  Strand Mag., II. 512/1. When he woke, a scarcely audible but regular, scraping sound struck his quick ear.

  absol.  1816.  Byron, Ch. Har., III. xxi. But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!

  b.  intr. with on, upon.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, lvi. The words … will strike upon my ears like a knell.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 270/2. A sound struck on his ear.

  64.  trans. Of a thought, an idea: To come into the mind of, occur to (a person). Freq. in the phr. it strikes (or it struck) me that —.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. ii. 87. He was dispos’d to mirth, but on the sodaine A Romane thought hath strooke him.

1712–3.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 14 Jan. I said something in his praise, when it struck me immediately that I had made a blunder in doing so.

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, I. iv. Hold … a thought has struck me!

1827.  Scott, Highl. Widow, v. The first idea that struck him was, that the passenger belonged to his own corps.

1867.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. App. 754. It strikes me that the scribe confounded these laws.

1891.  Murray’s Mag., X. 732. A happy thought struck Lady Betty.

  65.  To impress or arrest (the eye, view, sight).

1700.  Dryden, Fables, Pref. *A 2 b. Words, indeed, like glaring Colours, are the first Beauties that arise, and strike the Sight.

1737.  Gentl. Mag., VII. 30/1. The first Thing intended to have struck the Eye, was to have been a grand and stately Statue.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, xxx. When the eye or the imagination is struck with any uncommon work.

1779.  J. Moore, View Soc. Fr. (1789), I. ii. 12. Whose appearance always strikes the eye with delight.

1837.  P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 196. Habit … is that sort of resemblance which strikes the eye of the beholder at first sight, without putting him to the trouble of enquiring in what it specifically consists.

1892.  Cornh. Mag., July, 36. That is the only object that strikes our eyes yet.

  66.  Of something seen or heard: To impress strongly (a person); to appear remarkable to.

1672.  Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, IV. ii. (Arb.), 109. [Volscius recites.] Bayes. Ah! I gad, that strikes me.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 50, ¶ 1. Being wonderfully struck with the Sight of everything that is new or uncommon.

1764.  Dodsley, Leasowes, in Shenstone’s Wks. (1777), II. 318. On the entrance into this shrubbery, the first object that strikes us is a Venus de Medicis.

1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., Forester, xvi. Those arguments … struck him … with all the force of conviction.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., xxvi. His attendant was struck by the unusual change in his deportment.

1839.  Card. Wiseman, Anglican Claim Apostolic Succession (1905), 89. We have been struck how the Donatists, while they did not relish this name, had no objection to the national appellation of Africans.

1888.  Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. x. 263. The absence in him of prejudice and partisanship … was what used to strike us most.

  absol.  1717.  Pope, Ep. Jervas, 44. Thence endless streams of fair Ideas flow, Strike in the sketch, or in the picture glow.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 15. Things which rarely happen strike; whereas frequency lessens the admiration of things.

1779.  Johnson, L. P., Milton (1781), I. 204. The style [of his History of England] is harsh; but it has something of rough vigour, which perhaps may often strike, though it cannot please.

1830.  J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 6. A forest is more calculated to strike by the greatness of its aggregate.

1869.  J. Phillips, Vesuvius, i. 4. The first passage which strikes in Latin authors is that written by Pliny.

  b.  intr. To make an impression (on the mind, senses, observation).