stroke
/stroʊk/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*straik- — to stroke, strike, or smear
Overview
Meaning Now
- A sudden attack of illness, usually caused by a brain injury such as a clot or hemorrhage.
- A single act of hitting or striking someone or something.
- A movement of a limb or implement in a specific direction, as in swimming or painting.
Literal older meaning
a blow or strike
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
strāc
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The medical sense of 'stroke' originated in the late 16th century as 'stroke of God', suggesting a sudden divine blow or affliction, later shortened to 'stroke'.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*straik-
“a blow or stroke”
- Old English
strāc
“a movement, blow, or path”
Past tense of strīcan (to move, go, strike)
- Middle English
stroke
“a blow, a striking motion”
Connections
Word parts
stroke
root
to strike or move
Related across languages
German
Streich
blow, prank, or trick
Dutch
streek
stroke or region
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Related to stroke
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.