v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (often foll. by in, up) a draw, fold, or turn the outer or end parts of (cloth or clothes etc.) close together so as to be held; thrust in the edge of (a thing) so as to confine it (tucked his shirt into his trousers; tucked the sheet under the mattress). b thrust in the edges of bedclothes around (a person) (came to tuck me in). 2 tr. draw together into a small space (tucked her legs under her; the bird tucked its head under its wing). 3 tr. stow (a thing) away in a specified place or way (tucked it in a corner; tucked it out of sight). 4 tr. a make a stitched fold in (material, a garment, etc.). b shorten, tighten, or ornament with stitched folds. 5 tr. hit (a ball) to the desired place.
n. 1 a flattened usu. stitched fold in material, a garment, etc., often one of several parallel folds for shortening, tightening, or ornament. 2 Brit. colloq. food, esp. cakes and sweets eaten by children (also attrib.: tuck box). 3 Naut. the part of a ship's hull where the planks meet under the stern. 4 (in full tuck position) (in diving, gymnastics, etc.) a position with the knees bent upwards into the chest and the hands clasped round the shins. tuck in colloq. eat food heartily. tuck-in n. Brit. colloq. a large meal. tuck into (or away) colloq. eat (food) heartily (tucked into their dinner; could really tuck it away). tuck-net (or -seine) a small net for taking caught fish from a larger net. tuck shop Brit. a small shop, esp. near or in a school, selling food to children.
[ ME tukke, tokke, f. MDu., MLG tucken, = OHG zucchen pull, rel. to TUG ]