Poke /(?)/

1. A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (Phytolacca 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. (Bot.)

1. A bag; a sack; a pocket.

   They wallowed as pigs in a poke.

2. A long, wide sleeve; -- called also poke sleeve.

imp. & p. p. Poked; p. pr. & vb. n. Poking

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 ?”

2. To thrust with the horns; to gore.
3. To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox. [Colloq. U. S.]

1. 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.

1. The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs.
2. A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [Slang, U.S.]
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.]