lightning striken.
/ˈlʌɪtnɪŋ strʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ ˌstraɪk/ 1. A stroke of lightning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > thunder and lightning > [noun] > lightning > stroke of
slaughta1300
fire-slaughta1400
strokea1542
lightning strike1876
1876 Sci. Amer. 14 Oct. 244/2 The theory..of the cause of such frequent lightning strikes is that the gas..attracts the lightning.
1990 OnSat 1 July 5/1 [A] surge protector that will safeguard the system receivers of satellite dishes from the destructive effects of lightning strikes.
2010 W. C. Tweed Uncertain Path i. 31 A lightning strike a few miles down the canyon kindled a fire.
2. A sudden strike (strike n.1 9) by workers which takes place with little or no warning, and often without official union backing.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour relations > [noun] > strike > sudden or unofficial strike
outlaw strike1810
walkout1881
unofficial strike1894
lightning strike1913
wildcat strike1937
wildcat stoppage1942
rag-out1953
wild cat1959
wild-catting1969
1913 Amer. Federationist Mar. 398/2 The idea of the lightning strike was put into force by the cooks and allied kitchen workers in the London hospitals and restaurants.
1955 Times 3 Aug. 8/7 A shortage of labour caused a lightning strike of about 200 men at the Albert and William Wright docks at Hull to-day.
2015 Scunthorpe Tel. (Nexis) 16 July 4 Pickets formed outside the Scunthorpe probation offices,..with a two-hour lightning strike held as part of a pay dispute.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.1876