by-stroke

Noun

by-stroke (plural by-strokes)

1. An incidental or slyly given stroke; a gratuitous addition or indirect action.
   • But we do not suppose the House of Commons will quite surrender its authority to them on a point of such importance, or allow its intentions to be frustrated by a by-stroke of the Commissioners, without further inquiry.1848 February 12, The Railway Chronicle, page 107
   • The text before us furnishes an example of the manner in which he is wont to convey this doctrine to the minds of his people, even where he is not immediately employed on it—by a by-stroke, as it were .1857, John James Blunt, Plain sermons preached to a country congregation, page 18
2. A secondary attack.
   • The carriage of Lord Wilsdown rattled swiftly up to the door of Prince de Rosenberg's house in Park-lane, and the footman springing nimbly to the ground, produced a roll of thunder from the knocker, that would have done credit to a by-stroke of the cloud compelling Zeus .1845, The Impostor: Or, Born Without a Conscience, page 252
   • On his way he could not resist the temptation of dealing a by-stroke at the Petchenegans.1880, Robert Gossip, History of Russia, page 22