poke

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French — more at pocket Date: 13th century 1. chiefly Southern & Midland bag, sack 2. a. wallet b. purse II. verb (poked; poking) Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch poken to poke Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. (1) prod, jab <

poked him in the ribs

> (2) to urge or stir by prodding or jabbing <

poked and scolded by the old folks — Upton Sinclair

> (3) to cause to prod ; thrust <

poked a stick at the snake

> b. (1) pierce, stab (2) to produce by or as if by piercing, stabbing, or jabbing <

poke a hole

> <

poked holes in his heavily footnoted argument — David Stoll

> c. (1) hit, punch <

poked him in the nose

> (2) to deliver (a blow) with the fist (3) to hit (a blooper) in baseball 2. a. to cause to project <

poked her head out of the window

> b. to make (one's way) by poking <

poked his way through the ruins

> c. to interpose or interject in a meddlesome manner <

asked him not to poke his nose into other people's business

> intransitive verb 1. a. to make a prodding, jabbing, or thrusting movement especially repeatedly b. to strike out at something 2. a. to look about or through something without system ; rummage <

poking around in the attic

> b. meddle 3. to move or act slowly or aimlessly <

just poked around and didn't accomplish much

> 4. to become stuck out or forward ; protrude III. noun Date: circa 1796 1. a. a quick thrust ; jab b. a blow with the fist ; punch 2. a projecting brim on the front of a woman's bonnet 3. a cutting remark ; dig IV. noun Etymology: perhaps modification of Virginia Algonquian pocone, poughkone puccoon Date: 1708 pokeweed