Category:Poke

Poke, n. (bot.)

Defn: a large north american herb of the genus phytolacca (p. Decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; -- called also garget, Pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic And purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots Are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries Are said to be used in europe to color wine.

Poke Poke, n. Etym: [as. poca, poha, pohha; akin to icel. poki, od. poke, And perh. to e. pock; cf. also gael.poca, and of. poque. Cf. Pock, Pocket, pouch.]

1. A bag; a sack; a pocket. "he drew a dial from his poke." Shak. They wallowed as pigs in a poke. Chaucer.

2. A long, wide sleeve; -- called also poke sleeve. To boy a pig a Poke (that is, in a bag), to buy a thing without knowledge or Examination of it. Camden.

Poke Poke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poked; p. pr. & vb. n. Poking.] Etym: [cf. Lg. poken to prick, pierce, thrust, pok a dagger, knife, d. pook, g. Pocken to beat, also ir. poc a blow, gael. puc to push.]

1. To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to Stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire. He poked john, and said "sleepest thou " chaucer.

2. To thrust with the horns; to gore.

3. Etym: [from 5th poke, 3.]

Defn: to put a poke on; as, to poke an ox. [colloq. U. S.] To poke Fun, to excite fun; to joke; to jest. [colloq.] -- to poke fun at, to Make a butt of; to ridicule. [colloq.]

Poke Poke, v. i.

Defn: to search; to feel one's way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to Poke about. A man must have poked into latin and greek. Prior.

Poke Poke, n.

1. The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs. Ld. Lytton.

2. A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [slang, u.s.] Bartlett.

3. A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking Through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed Forward. [u.s.] Poke bonnet, a bonnet with a straight, projecting Front.