mercy stroke

noun

1. coup de grâce.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercy stroke¹

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

Catlin and Inman and every traveller familiar with the great plains region between the Arkansas and Saskatchewan testify that the quick death of the bullet was, indeed, the mercy stroke compared to nature's end of her wild creatures.

From Project Gutenberg

To such the hunter's shot was a mercy stroke.

From Project Gutenberg