English

Noun

by-stroke ‎(plural by-strokes)

1. An accidental or slyly given stroke; a side-blow or side-wind; a ruse.
   • The Parliamentary debates, official report:

     Financier as he was, he felt it was not right by a by-stroke or side-wind to alter what is a matter of high constitutional practice.

   • 1907, Caroline Lane Reynolds Slemmer Jebb (lady.), Arthur Woollgar Verrall, Life and letters of Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb, O. M., LITT. D.:

     We must be content to signalize a by-stroke of sympathetic delicacy.