Pocket piece

Pocket \Pock"et\ (p[o^]k"[e^]t), n. [OE. poket, Prov. F. & OF.
   poquette, F. pochette, dim. fr. poque, pouque, F. poche;
   probably of Teutonic origin. See {Poke} a pocket, and cf.
   {Poach} to cook eggs, to plunder, and {Pouch}.]
   1. A bag or pouch; especially; a small bag inserted in a
      garment for carrying small articles, particularly money;
      hence, figuratively, money; wealth.
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   2. One of several bags attached to a billiard table, into
      which the balls are driven.
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   3. A large bag or sack used in packing various articles, as
      ginger, hops, cowries, etc.
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   Note: In the wool or hop trade, the pocket contains half a
         sack, or about 168 Ibs.; but it is a variable quantity,
         the articles being sold by actual weight.
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   4. (Arch.) A hole or space covered by a movable piece of
      board, as in a floor, boxing, partitions, or the like.
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   5. (Mining.)
      (a) A cavity in a rock containing a nugget of gold, or
          other mineral; a small body of ore contained in such a
          cavity.
      (b) A hole containing water.
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   6. (Nat.) A strip of canvas, sewn upon a sail so that a
      batten or a light spar can placed in the interspace.
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   7. (Zool.) Same as {Pouch}.
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   8. Any hollow place suggestive of a pocket in form or use;
      specif.:
      (a) A bin for storing coal, grain, etc.
      (b) A socket for receiving the foot of a post, stake, etc.
      (c) A bight on a lee shore.
      (d) a small cavity in the body, especially one abnormally
          filled with a fluid; as, a pocket of pus.
      (e) (Dentistry) a small space between a tooth and the
          adjoining gum, formed by an abnormal separation of the
          gum from the tooth.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

   9. An isolated group or area which has properties in contrast
      to the surrounding area; as, a pocket of poverty in an
      affluent region; pockets of resistance in a conquered
      territory; a pocket of unemployment in a booming ecomony.
      [PJC]

   10. (Football) The area from which a quarterback throws a
       pass, behind the line of scrimmage, delineated by the
       defensive players of his own team who protect him from
       attacking opponents; as, he had ample time in the pocket
       to choose an open receiver.
       [PJC]

   11. (Baseball) The part of a baseball glove covering the palm
       of the wearer's hand.
       [PJC]

   12. (Bowling) the space between the head pin and one of the
       pins in the second row, considered as the optimal point
       at which to aim the bowling ball in order to get a
       strike.
       [PJC]

   Note: Pocket is often used adjectively in the sense of small,
         or in the formation of compound words usually of
         obvious signification; as, pocket knife, pocket comb,
         pocket compass, pocket edition, pocket handkerchief,
         pocket money, pocket picking, or pocket-picking, etc.
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   {deep pocket} or

   {deep pockets}, wealth or substantial financial assets.

   Note: Used esp. in legal actions, where plaintiffs desire to
         find a defendant with "deep pockets", so as to be able
         to actually obtain the sum of damages which may be
         judged due to him. This contrasts with a
         "judgment-proof" defendant, one who has neither assets
         nor insurance, and against whom a judgment for monetary
         damages would be uncollectable and worthless. 

   {Out of pocket}. See under {Out}, prep.

   {Pocket borough}, a borough "owned" by some person. See under
      {Borough}. [Eng.]

   {Pocket gopher} (Zool.), any one of several species of
      American rodents of the genera {Geomys}, and {Thomomys},
      family {Geomyd[ae]}. They have large external cheek
      pouches, and are fossorial in their habits. they inhabit
      North America, from the Mississippi Valley west to the
      Pacific. Called also {pouched gopher}.

   {Pocket mouse} (Zool.), any species of American mice of the
      family {Saccomyid[ae]}. They have external cheek pouches.
      Some of them are adapted for leaping (genus {Dipadomys}),
      and are called {kangaroo mice}. They are native of the
      Southwestern United States, Mexico, etc.

   {Pocket piece}, a piece of money kept in the pocket and not
      spent.

   {Pocket pistol}, a pistol to be carried in the pocket.

   {Pocket sheriff} (Eng. Law), a sheriff appointed by the sole
      authority of the crown, without a nomination by the judges
      in the exchequer. --Burrill.
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