1. v. & n.
--v.
1. (foll. by in, up, down, etc.) a tr. thrust or push with the hand, point of a stick, etc. b intr. be thrust forward.
2 intr. (foll. by at etc.) make thrusts with a stick etc.
3 tr. thrust the end of a finger etc. against.
4 tr. (foll. by in) produce (a hole etc. in a thing) by poking.
5 tr. thrust forward, esp. obtrusively.
6 tr. stir (a fire) with a poker.
7 intr. a (often foll. by about, around) move or act desultorily; potter. b (foll. by about, into) pry; search casually.
8 tr. coarse sl. have sexual intercourse with.
9 tr. (foll. by up) colloq. confine (esp. oneself) in a poky place.
--n.
1. the act or an instance of poking.
2 a thrust or nudge.
3 a device fastened on cattle etc. to prevent them breaking through fences.
4 a a projecting brim or front of a woman's bonnet or hat. b (in full poke-bonnet) a bonnet having this.
Phrases and idioms:
poke fun at ridicule, tease. poke one's nose into colloq. pry or intrude into (esp. a person's affairs).
Etymology: ME f. MDu. and MLG poken, of unkn. orig. 2. n. dial. a bag or sack.
Phrases and idioms:
buy a pig in a poke see PIG.
Etymology: ME f. ONF poke, poque OF poche: cf. POUCH