n. [ Cf. D. schok a bounce, jolt, or leap, OHG. scoc a swing, MHG. schoc, Icel. skykkjun tremuously, F. choc a shock, collision, a dashing or striking against, Sp. choque, It. ciocco a log. √161. Cf. Shock to shake. ] 1. A quivering or shaking which is the effect of a blow, collision, or violent impulse; a blow, impact, or collision; a concussion; a sudden violent impulse or onset. [ 1913 Webster ]

These strong, unshaken mounds resist the shocks
Of tides and seas tempestuous. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sudden agitation of the mind or feelings; a sensation of pleasure or pain caused by something unexpected or overpowering; also, a sudden agitating or overpowering event. “A shock of pleasure.” Talfourd. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) A sudden depression of the vital forces of the entire body, or of a part of it, marking some profound impression produced upon the nervous system, as by severe injury, overpowering emotion, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Elec.) The sudden convulsion or contraction of the muscles, with the feeling of a concussion, caused by the discharge, through the animal system, of electricity from a charged body. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Concussion, Shock. Both words signify a sudden violent shaking caused by impact or colision; but concussion is restricted in use to matter, while shock is used also of mental states. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shocked p. pr. & vb. n. Shocking. ] [ OE. schokken; cf. D. schokken, F. choquer, Sp. chocar. √161. Cf. Chuck to strike, Jog, Shake, Shock a striking, Shog, n. & v. ] 1. To give a shock to; to cause to shake or waver; hence, to strike against suddenly; to encounter with violence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come the three corners of the world in arms,
And we shall shock them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall never forget the force with which he shocked De Vipont. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust; to cause to recoil; as, his violence shocked his associates. [ 1913 Webster ]

Advise him not to shock a father's will. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physiol.) To subject to the action of an electrical discharge so as to cause a more or less violent depression or commotion of the nervous system. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. To meet with a shock; to meet in violent encounter. “They saw the moment approach when the two parties would shock together.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Shag. ] 1. (Zool.) A dog with long hair or shag; -- called also shockdog. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A thick mass of bushy hair; as, a head covered with a shock of sandy hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bushy; shaggy; as, a shock hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

His red shock peruke . . . was laid aside. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. schokke; cf. OD schocke, G. schock a heap, quantity, threescore, MHG. schoc, Sw. skok, and also G. hocke a heap of hay, Lith. kugis. ] 1. A pile or assemblage of sheaves of grain, as wheat, rye, or the like, set up in a field, the sheaves varying in number from twelve to sixteen; a stook. [ 1913 Webster ]

And cause it on shocks to be by and by set. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behind the master walks, builds up the shocks. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ G. schock. ] (Com.) A lot consisting of sixty pieces; -- a term applied in some Baltic ports to loose goods. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To collect, or make up, into a shock or shocks; to stook; as, to shock rye. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be occupied with making shocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reap well, scatter not, gather clean that is shorn,
Bind fast, shock apace. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See 7th Shock, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Shock-headed. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]