poker English · revision 13578

− It is formed from the verb [[poke]] and [[-er]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) A Middle English pokere (early 12th century) may have meant one who bags grain, from poke, a bag.^(Etymonline)

− It is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is sometimes explained as from German Pochspiel, a similar bragging game, from pochen, to brag, literally to knock, as players passed by saying “Ich poche” or rapping the table;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) or from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch poken, to brag;^(Barnhart 1988) or, according to Merriam-Webster, probably from French poque, a similar card game.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart warns that without documentation these explanations are mere speculation.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)