poker

¹

[ poh-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that pokes. poke.
2. a metal rod for poking poke or stirring a fire.

poker

²

[ poh-ker ]

noun

1. a card game played by two or more persons, in which the players bet on the value of their hands, the winner taking the pool.

poker

¹

/ ˈpəʊkə /

noun

1. a metal rod, usually with a handle, for stirring a fire
2. a person or thing that pokes

poker

²

/ ˈpəʊkə /

noun

1. a card game of bluff and skill in which bets are made on the hands dealt, the highest-ranking hand (containing the most valuable combinations of sequences and sets of cards) winning the pool

Word History and Origins

Origin of poker¹

First recorded in 1525–35; poke ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of poker²

1825–35, Americanism; perhaps originally braggart, bluffer; compare Middle Low German poken to brag, play, Middle Dutch poken to bluff, brag

Word History and Origins

Origin of poker¹

C19: probably from French poque similar card game

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with poker , also see stiff as a board (poker) .

Example Sentences

Practically indestructible, it’s a perfectly palm-sized piece of machined brass that features a lid that swivels closed, a permanent screen, a stash pod that stows about five bowls’ worth of herb and an onboard poker that holds the whole shebang together — when it’s not being used to clean the screen or bowl.

From Los Angeles Times

“My metal internal spinal fusion heats up when I’m outside for even a minute or two and feels like someone is holding a hot poker on my spine,” Chandler said.

From Salon

He managed the pitching staff like a master poker player.

From Los Angeles Times

They will then attempt to put on a poker face and head out into the results room to take their seats on the front row, the rest of us still clueless about the result.

From BBC

Angeleno Clay Holmes sort of understands what it is like to be a professional athlete — he supplements his income playing competitive poker — though he says he doesn’t really break a sweat doing it.

From Los Angeles Times