Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
POKE
I. noun see: pocket
Date: 13th century
bag , sack ,
2. wallet , purse ,
II. verb (poked; poking)
Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch poken to poke
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. a. prod , jab , to urge or stir by prodding or jabbing , to cause to prod ; thrust , b. pierce , stab , to produce by or as if by piercing, stabbing, or jabbing , c. hit , punch , to deliver (a blow) with the fist, to hit (a blooper) in baseball,
2. to cause to project , to make (one's way) by poking , to interpose or interject in a meddlesome manner , intransitive verb
1. to make a prodding, jabbing, or thrusting movement especially repeatedly, to strike out at something,
2. to look about or through something without system ; rummage , meddle , to move or act slowly or aimlessly , to become stuck out or forward ; protrude ,
III. noun
Date: circa 1796
1. a quick thrust ; jab , a blow with the fist ; punch , a projecting brim on the front of a woman's bonnet, a cutting remark ; dig ,
IV. noun
Etymology: perhaps modification of Virginia Algonquian pocone, poughkone puccoon
Date: 1708
pokeweed