From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Stroking \Strok"ing\, n.
1. The act of rubbing gently with the hand, or of smoothing;
a stroke.
[1913 Webster]
I doubt not with one gentle stroking to wipe away
ten thousand tears. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Needlework) The act of laying small gathers in cloth in
regular order.
[1913 Webster]
3. pl. See Stripping, 2. --Smollett.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
stroking
n 1: a light touch with the hands [syn: stroke, stroking]