from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Poke \Poke\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Poked}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Poking}.] [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.
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He poked John, and said "Sleepest thou ?" --Chaucer.
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2. To thrust with the horns; to gore.
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3. [From 5th {Poke}, 3.] To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox.
[Colloq. U. S.]
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{To poke fun}, to excite fun; to joke; to jest. [Colloq.]
{To poke fun at}, to make a butt of; to ridicule. [Colloq.]
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