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

There he donned a pair of trunks and splashed in the coral-green waters, using the peculiar head-out-of-water stroke he calls the "Missouri sidestroke."

From Time Magazine Archive

When I looked up from my sidestroke, the boat looked to be more than a half-mile away from me.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull