pocket English · revision 4920

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1280|origins=xno pokete}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɒk.ɪt/, US /ˈpɑː.kɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|pokete]], [[bor|xno|pokete]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a diminutive of Old North French poke, poque “bag”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from a Germanic source akin to Frankish *pokka “bag”,^(Etymonline) and related to [[poke]] “bag”, as in the phrase a pig in a poke.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998) [[poach|alt=Poach]], to cook in a bag-like way, probably has the same source.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A bag or sack, sometimes a measure of quantity, as of hops or wool: 1280 in the OED,^(OED 1989) as the surname Poket in 1210, and as a word 1350 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A small bag worn on the person, especially one sewn into a garment, is from the early 15th century (about 1430 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) One's money is called one's pocket from 1717,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''out of pocket'' is from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) The pockets of a billiard table are from 1754,^(Etymonline) a cavity of ore in mining from 1850,^(Etymonline) and a nearly surrounded area held by troops from 1918.^(Etymonline) The verb, to put in one's pocket, is from 1589,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) and to take dishonestly for oneself from 1637.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The adjective, for or small enough for a pocket, is from 1612.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The American ''pocket veto'' is from 1842,^(Etymonline) and a ''pocket borough'' in Britain, controlled by one family, by 1798.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1280 – a bag or sack.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – a pouch in a garment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1589 – verb, to put in a pocket.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1612 – adjective, for the pocket.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1637 – to appropriate.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1717 – one's money.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1754 – a billiard-table pocket.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1842 – ''pocket veto''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small bag sewn into or onto a piece of [[clothing]], used for carrying things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small area or group that is different from what surrounds it: ''pockets of resistance''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One's supply of money: ''prices to suit every pocket''.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+ # A bag at the corner or side of a [[billiards]] or [[snooker]] table.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To put something in one's pocket.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To take something, especially money, dishonestly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Small enough to carry in a pocket.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pocketable]]

+ * [[pocketless]]

+ * [[pocketful]]

+ * [[pocketlike]]

+ * [[pickpocket]]

+ * [[pocketbook]]

+ * [[pocketknife]]

+ * [[air pocket]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[poke]]

+ * [[pouch]]

+ * [[poach]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}