Shock

n. [O. H. Ger. soco, a swing, M. H. Ger. schoc, O. & Prov. Ger. schock, shock, D. schok, a bounce, jolt, or leap; Fr. choc, a shock, collision, a dashing or striking against, Sp. choque; allied to shake.]

1Sense 1. A sudden striking against; a collision; a sharp concussion of one thing against another.

The strong, unshaken mounds resist the shocks Of tides and seas. Blackmore.

He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. Addison.

2Sense 2. That which surprises or offends the intellect or the moral sense; a blow; an offense.

Fewer shocks a statesman gives his friend. Young.

3Sense 3. [M. H. Ger. schoc, N. H. Ger. schock, a heap, quantity, a score, threescore, Sw. skock, Dan. skok.] A pile or assemblage of sheaves of wheat, rye, and the like, varying in number from twelve to sixteen.

And cause it on shocks to be by and by set. Tusser.

Behind the master walks, builds up the shocks. Thomson.

4Sense 4. (Elec.) The sudden convulsion or contraction of the muscles, with the feeling of a painful concussion, occasioned by the discharge, through the animal system, of electricity from a charged body.

5Sense 5. (Med.) The violent agitation or derangement of any organ or organs, or of the nervous system, consequent upon severe injuries, overwhelming emotions, and various other causes. Dunglison.

6Sense 6. (Com.) A lot consisting of sixty pieces;—a term applied to loose goods in some ports of the Baltic; as, a shock of staves. Simmonds.

Synonyms—Concussion; collision.—SHOCK, CONCUSSION.

A shock is literally a violent shake or agitation; a concussion is a shaking of things together. A shock may affect the body or the mind; a concussion properly affects only the body or material objects; as, a concussion of the brain; a concussion of the elements. The effects of a shock may or may not be violent and lasting; those of a concussion are usually severe and permanent.

Long at the head of his few faithful friends He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. Addison.

The strong concussion on the heaving tide Rolled back the vessel to the island's side. Pope.

n. [From shag. See SHOUGH.]

1Sense 1. A dog with long hair or shag;—called also shock-dog.

2Sense 2. Hence, a thick mass of short hair; as, a head covered with a shock of sandy hair.

His red shock peruke . . . was laid aside. W. Scott.

v. i. [O. Ger. schocken.] 1. To meet with a shock; to encounter. And now with shouts the shocking armies closed. Pope. They saw the moment approach when the two parties would shock together. De Quincey. 2. To collect sheaves into a pile. Tusser.