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Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

The act of rubbing gently with the hand, or of smoothing; a stroke.

I doubt not with one gentle

stroking

to wipe away ten thousand tears.

Milton.

(Needlework)

The act of laying small gathers in cloth in regular order.

pl.

See

, 2.

Smollett.

ppr.

Rubbing gently with the hand.