PO'KE-WEED, noun The popular name of a plant of the genus Phytolacca, otherwise called cocum and garget; a native of noun America. As a medicine, it has emetic and cathartic qualities, and has had some reputation as a remedy for rheumatism. It was formerly called in Virginia, pocan. POKE, verb transitive 1. Properly, to thrust; hence, to feel or search for with a long instrument. 2. To thrust at with the horns, as an ox; a popular use of the word in New England. And intransitively, to poke at, is to thrust the horns at. POKE, noun In New England, a machine to prevent unruly beasts from leaping fences, consisting of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointing forward. POKE, verb transitive To put a poke on; a, to polk an ox.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI