Middle English Dictionary Entry
pōken v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | pōken v.(1) Also pouke(n, puken, pukken. |
| Etymology | Cp. MDu., MLG pōken; forms in -u-, -ou- may be due to influence of ME pushen or putten. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To poke (sb.), nudge; also, knock (sb.), strike; ~ on; (b) to push or thrust (sth.) out, remove; (c) to stimulate (sb.), irritate; incite (sb. to do sth.); ~ forth (out), bring out (pride), stir up; ~ upon, stimulate (sb.); ~ to god, urge (sb. to a good work); (d) ?to walk with one's head thrust forward; (e) in street name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.552 : Ȝer com þe fischer priueliche, & puked þemperour softliche; His tale to him he told.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4169 : Aleyn the clerk that herde this melodye..poked [vrr. pouked on, poukede] Iohn and seyde, 'slepestow?'
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.116 : Pandare wep as he to water wolde And poked [vrr. pokede, puked] evere his nece new and newe, And seyde, 'Wo bygon ben hertes trewe!'
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)25365 : Boors..gan hym dyht there as kyng Ameuz ȝit lay Stylle..and with his swerd he poked hym þere vppon his Scheld jn diuers Manere.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3483 : Euery man sat stylle, and pokyd oþir; Þey sayden, 'Þis is þe deuelys broþir.'
- (a1460) BokenhamSts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)32.116 (v.1:p.239) : The stiward .. pokid the patriarc as who seith, 'Lo, yet he commeth ageyn the thrid tyme.'
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13849 : The prophete Helye..vnder a tre..he slep..An Aungel..Pookede hym and made hym ryse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)367 : He..putte the poynte of his swerde on his shelde, and be-gan to pouke [F bouter] hym, and cleped, 'Rise up, Kynge Amaunt.'
b
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.12 : Cast first þe beeme out of þin owne eye, and þan maist þou poke beter þe mot fro þi broþir.
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.97 : Wraþþe..pokiþ [vr. poukiþ] þe for pride to preise þiselue.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.119 : Peris þe plouȝman..pukide [vr. powkid] hym to goode.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.620 : He..pukketh forþ [vrr. pucketh; pukkes for; C vr. poked out] pruyde to prayse þiseluen.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.129 : For prude that hym pokede, hus peyne hath no ende.
- a1450 Rich.(Cai 175/96:Weber)5937 : Kyng Richard pokyd [Add: pekyd; vrr. pykked, thoghte] gret errour; Wrathe dede hym chaung colour.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16317 : But yiff..somme sodeyne aduersyte excyte me and pooke vp-on me, I kan neuere..haue hertly Recours vnto the.
d
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.171 : I lench, i len, on lyme i lasse, I poke, i pomple, i palle, i passe, As galliþ gome igeld.
e
- (1224) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.140 : Pokekertelle.