sidestroke

American  

[sahyd-strohk] / ˈsaɪdˌstroʊk /

noun

1. a stroke in which the body is turned sideways in the water, the hands pull alternately, and the legs perform a scissors kick.

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verb (used without object)

sidestroked, sidestroking

1. to swim the sidestroke.

sidestroke British  

/ ˈsaɪdˌstrəʊk /

noun

1. a type of swimming stroke in which the swimmer lies sideways in the water paddling with his arms and making a scissors kick with his legs

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Etymology

Origin of sidestroke

First recorded in 1750–60; side ¹ + stroke ¹

Example Sentences

He was the lifeguard; she, the big-eyed beauty with long dark hair and a mean sidestroke.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2019

He told me to swim 200 meters alternating between the breaststroke, the sidestroke, the backstroke, and the crawl.

From Slate • Jun. 13, 2013

When the yacht anchored in Delaware Bay he went swimming, employing a sedate sidestroke which enabled him to keep his glasses unsplashed.

From Time Magazine Archive

They used an antiquated sidestroke and were anxious to learn how to do the crawl.

From Time Magazine Archive

First they raced freestyle, then backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull