poke 1
— pokable , adj.
/pohk/ , v. , poked, poking , n.
v.t.
1. to prod or push, esp. with something narrow or pointed, as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.: to poke someone in the ribs.
2. to make (a hole, one's way, etc.) by or as by prodding or pushing.
3. to thrust or push: She poked her head out of the window.
4. to force, drive, or stir by or as by pushing or thrusting: He poked the fire up.
5. to thrust obtrusively: The prosecutor kept poking his finger at the defendant.
v.i.
6. to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.
7. to extend or project (often fol. by out ): His handkerchief is poking out of his back pocket.
8. to thrust oneself obtrusively: to poke into something that is not one's affair.
9. to search curiously; pry (often fol. by around or about ).
10. to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often fol. by along ).
11. poke fun at , to ridicule or mock, esp. covertly or slyly: In her novel, she pokes fun at her ex-husband.
12. poke one's nose into , Informal. to meddle in; pry into: We felt as if half the people in town were poking their noses into our lives.
n.
13. a thrust or push.
14. Informal. a slow or dawdling person; slowpoke.
[ 1300-50; ME poken to thrust. See POACH 1 ]
poke 2
/pohk/ , n.
1. Chiefly Midland U.S. and Scot. a bag or sack, esp. a small one.
2. a wallet or purse.
3. Archaic. a pocket.
[ 1250-1300; ME poque, F poche bag, pocket; cf. POACH 2 , POCKET, POUCH ]
poke 3
/pohk/ , n.
1. a projecting brim at the front of a bonnet, framing the face.
2. Also called poke bonnet . a bonnet or hat with such a brim.
[ 1760-70; appar. special use of POKE 1 ]
poke 4
/pohk/ , n.
pokeweed.
[ 1590-1600; perh. shortening of obs. pocan pokeweed, perh. var. of PUCCOON (pokeberries and puccoon roots were both sources of red dye) ]