poke
A bag or sack — especially a little paper one from the store.
Also called sack, bag.
Updated September 24, 2026
poke pronunciation
/POHK/
Meaning
In Appalachian and Midland Southern talk, a poke is what outsiders call a bag. Often a brown paper sack for groceries, candy, or a turn of meal. You might hear "a poke of peanuts" or "put it in a poke." Same word family as pocket and pouch. Don't confuse it with pokeweed (poke sallet) — different animal, same spelling.
How folks use it
- “Put them beans in a poke so they don't spill in the truck.”
- “He came home with a poke of candy for the kids.”
Origin and etymology
Old English/Middle English poke meant a bag or small sack, likely via Norman French poque and related Germanic words. DARE and dialect maps put the "paper bag" sense chiefly in the Midland and Appalachians. Scotch-Irish settlers carried similar bag talk from Ulster. The proverb "pig in a poke" still uses the same root — a pig hidden in a sack.
Frequently asked questions
Is poke the same as poke sallet?
No. This poke is a bag. Poke sallet is greens from pokeweed — same spelling, different meaning.