The term 'Stroke' for what is nowadays called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA; meaning blockage of a the brain arterial supply by a thrombus or embolus; or brain destruction from a cerebral hemorrhage) derives from the term "Elf-Stroke" or "Fairy-Stroke".
The belief was that when a person collapsed with a paralytic seizure, and immediately or soon died, he had been struck with Elf-Shot (from a flint-headed arrow or dart) or some other kind of elf-blow.
His real body and soul had been invisibly taken by the elves, and replaced with a 'Stock' - perhaps a piece of wood, or a replica; which if not already inert would soon cease to move.
This information comes from A Dictionary of Fairies by Katharine Briggs, 1976. Dr Katharine Mary Briggs - MA, DPhil, DLitt Oxon. - (dates 1898-1980) was President of the English Folklore Society.
In the early part of the 20th century people referred to anyone who behaved strangely as "touched" or pixalated! That would be a reference to being touched or influenced by fairy people, pixies also could influence behavior. The interesting thing is these people were never violent or dangerous. In the 1950s' Hollywood made a movie called "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart. Harvey, being his companion in the film, was also known as a Puka, an invisible 6 foot tall rabbit which accompanied him everywhere. Calm and friendliness prevailed in these stories. A "stroke" of good luck might fall in this category as well. This was also Stewart's favorite film.
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