Poke
/poʊk/noun
To jab or prod something quickly with a finger or pointed object.
Did you know?‘Poke’ is an old Germanic word, and its deeper relatives include words for stabbing and thrusting—proof that even tiny everyday verbs can carry a history of force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰewg- / *bʰug-
“To bend, thrust, or poke out”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*bōkōną / *puk-
“To poke, thrust, or strike”
Old English
OE
pōcian
“To poke, prod, or thrust”
Middle English
ME
poken
“To jab, thrust, or push sharply”
Modern English
English
poke
“To jab or prod with a quick motion”