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Definition of poker - 7 dictionary results

pok⋅er

1  [poh-ker]
Use poker in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person or thing that pokes.
2. a metal rod for poking or stirring a fire.
Origin:
1525–35; poke 1 + -er 1

pok⋅er

2  [poh-ker]
–noun
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.
Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; perh. orig. braggart, bluffer; cf. MLG poken to brag, play, MD poken to bluff, brag
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pok·er 1   (pō'kər)   
n.  One that pokes, especially a metal rod used to stir a fire.
pok·er 2   (pō'kər)   
n.  Any of various card games played by two or more players who bet on the value of their hands.

[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

poker  (1)
"metal rod," 1534, from poke (v.).

poker  (2)
"card game," 1834, Amer.Eng., perhaps from the first element of Ger. Pochspiel, name of a card game similar to poker, from pochen "to brag as a bluff," lit. "to knock, rap" (see poke (v.)). Another version traces the word to Fr. poque, also said to have been a card game resembling poker. The earlier version of the game in Eng. was called brag. Slang poker face "deadpan" is from 1885.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

poker

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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