Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - poke

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French — more at pocket  Date: 13th century  1. chiefly Southern & Midland bag, sack  2.  a. wallet  b. purse  II. verb  (~d; poking)  Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch ~n to ~  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1.  a.  (1) prod, jab ~d him in the ribs  (2) to urge or stir by prodding or jabbing ~d and scolded by the old folks — Upton Sinclair  (3) to cause to prod ; thrust ~d a stick at the snake  b.  (1) pierce, stab  (2) to produce by or as if by piercing, stabbing, or jabbing ~ a hole ~d holes in his heavily footnoted argument — David Stoll  c.  (1) hit, punch ~d him in the nose  (2) to deliver (a blow) with the fist  (3) to hit (a blooper) in baseball  2.  a. to cause to project ~d her head out of the window  b. to make (one's way) by poking ~d his way through the ruins  c. to interpose or interject in a meddlesome manner asked him not to ~ his nose into other people's business  intransitive verb  1.  a. to make a prodding, jabbing, or thrusting movement especially repeatedly  b. to strike out at something  2.  a. to look about or through something without system ; rummage poking around in the attic  b. meddle  3. to move or act slowly or aimlessly just ~d around and didn't accomplish much  4. to become stuck out or forward ; protrude  III. noun  Date: circa 1796  1.  a. a quick thrust ; jab  b. a blow with the fist ; punch  2. a projecting brim on the front of a woman's bonnet  3. a cutting remark ; dig  IV. noun  Etymology: perhaps modification of Virginia Algonquian pocone, poughkone puccoon  Date: 1708 ~weed