Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. an act of sexual intercourse.

1593		Nashe Choise of Valentines (1899) 15: As she prescrib’d, soe kept we crochet-time, And euerie stroake in order lyke a chyme.
1615		R. Brathwait Strappado 165: Play that stroake still, theres none that here can let thee, For non there is can better please thy Bettie.
1650		H. Nevile Newes from the New Exchange 8: [Lady Rutland has] a great stroke too with Harry Martyn.
c.1660		‘Fryar and Boye’ in Furnivall & Hales Bishop Percy’s Folio Manuscript of Loose and Humorous Songs (1868) 25: Some women there through wanton love, / which gott strokes in the darke.
1674		F. Fane ‘Iter Occidentale’ Harleian Mss. 7319.20: With naked Strokes, the more inflamed Tydes.
1683		Whores Rhetorick 204: They might easily perceive the impossibility of giving a Woman any tast of delight, who is commonly tired with the fatigue of many repeated strokes.
c.1707		‘The Harlot Un-Mask’d’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 112: In this too she Mimicks the Punks of the State: / Whose Aim is all one for to get a good Stroak.
1709		N. Chorier (trans.) of Meursius ‘The Delights of Venus’ in Cabinet of Love (1739) 196: This Stroke did fully answer our Intent, For at one Instant both together [...] fell down in a blissful Ecstasy.
c.1720		‘The Travelling Tinker’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 226: With that the Jolly Tinker took, / A Stroke or two most kindly; / With a thump thump thump and knick knack knock, / He did her Business finely.
c.1745		Excellent New Garland 3: When once he comes betwixt your Thighs, Lie flat upon your Back; Hold up your Tail, and do not fail, Three Strokes for one to be sure, Or else ... It’s the Trick of a lazy Whore.
1772		G. Stevens ‘The Demirep’ Songs Comic and Satyrical 103: It is all but a joke, / When compared to the stroke / That is given by fine – I know who, Sir.
1786		C. Morris ‘The Great Plenipotentiary’ Collection of Songs (1788) 41: The young Misses’ Plan was to catch as catch can, / And all were resolved on a Stroke, Sir.
1797		Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 262: How this ugly stroke befell her / She hardly knows.
1834		‘Guess the Rest’ in Flash Minstrel! in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) I 104: Then into bed did poke, / As soon as they’d undrest, / And there they had a —; / But you may guess the rest.
1842		Wkly Rake (NY) 3 Sept. n.p.: ‘A bold stroke for a husband,’ as the woman said who caught her worser half in bed with the chambermaid .
c.1850		Peeping Tom (London) 36 142/2: She will [...] Pocket the Queen without giving him a chance of winning a Strike [...] in the whole play.
1865		‘Master Humphrey’s Clock’ Rambler’s Flash Songster 8: But gents anon, be sure your weights are well hung; / For unless they are, and mind I do not joke, / Your clock can never give a good stroke.
1975		S. Selvon Moses Ascending (1984) 26: After that glorious stroke with Brenda I got to thinking [...] it might not be a bad idea to have she available on the spot. Strokes aside, there was several duties she could perform.
2016		A. Wheatle Crongton Knights 20: ‘The only time I’m gonna be chirping and linking with any girl is when I’m touching fourth base with her and getting my strokes on’.

2. the penis.

1832		Satirist (London) 2 Sept. 285/4: The Duchess [...] gave the celebrated drummer of the Cheltenham band, two sovereigns, in token of her admiration of his unrivalled skill on that instrument. Her Grace was particularly taken with the length of his drumstick : which, she observed no doubt was the reason of his being able to give his strokes with such [...] effect!
1941		in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 213: There was a young lady named Moore / Who, while not quite precisely a whore, / Couldn’t pass up a chance / To take down her pants, / And compare some man’s stroke with her bore.

3. (US black) male sexual endurance.

1937

P. Grainger ‘One Hour Mama’ 🎵 And I don’t want no imitation / ‘Cause my requirements ain’t no joke / And I get full indignation / For a guy that’s lost his stroke.

4. (US) admiration, affection.

2017

D. Winslow The Force [ebook] Malone got a lot of stroke from the Haitian community.