■ noun
1》 a small bag sewn into or on clothing so as to form part of it, used for carrying small articles.
↘a pouch-like compartment providing separate storage space.
↘( one's ~ ) informal one's financial resources.
2》 a small, isolated patch, group, or area.
3》 Billiards & Snooker an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which balls are struck.
4》 American Football a protected area behind the line of scrimmage, from which the quarterback throws a pass.
5》 Baseball a hollow in a baseball mitt in which the ball is caught and held.
■ adjective of a suitable size for carrying in a ~: a ~ dictionary.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed )
1》 put into one's ~.
2》 take for oneself, especially dishonestly.
3》 Billiards & Snooker drive (a ball) into a ~.
Phrases
in someone's ~
1》 dependent on someone financially and therefore under their influence.
2》 closely involved with someone.
out of (or in ) ~ having lost (or gained) money in a transaction.
put one's hand in one's ~ spend or provide one's own money.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~ful noun ( plural ~fuls ).
~less adjective
Origin
ME (in the sense 'bag, sack', also used as a measure of quantity): from Anglo-Norman Fr. poket(e ), dimin. of poke 'pouch'.