poke

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

1) A bag. I have heard this old word used by some persons here in the compound term cream-poke; that is, a small bag through which cream is strained.--Pickering.


2) A lazy person; a dawdle. 'What a slow poke you be!' A woman's word.

3)POKE-WEED

(Lat. phytolacca.) A common plant, known also by the names of Garget, Cocum, Jalap, &c. It is a violent emetic.--Bigelow's Plants of Boston.

4) In New England, a machine to prevent unruly beasts from leaping fences, consisting of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointing forward.--Webster.

5) TO POKE

To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.--Webster.

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