ˈpɔkɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a
small bag sewn into or on
clothing,
for carrying small articles. 2 a pouchlike
compartment in a
suitcase,
car door, etc. 3 one's
financial resources (it is
beyond my pocket). 4 an
isolated group or
area (a
few pockets of
resistance remain). 5 a a
cavity in
the earth containing
ore,
esp.
gold. b a cavity in rock, esp. filled
with foreign matter. 6 a
pouch at the
corner or on the
side of a billiardor snooker-table into
which balls are
driven. 7 =
air pocket. 8 (attrib.) a of a
suitable size
and shape for carrying in a pocket. b smaller
than the
usual size. --v.tr. (pocketed, pocketing) 1 put into one's pocket. 2
appropriate, esp. dishonestly. 3
confine as in a pocket. 4
submit to (an
injury or affront). 5
conceal or
suppress (one's feelings). 6
Billiards etc.
drive (a ball) into a pocket. øin pocket 1 having gained in a
transaction. 2 (of money)
available. in a person's pocket 1
under a person's
control. 2 close to or intimate with a
person.
out of pocket having
lost in a transaction. out-of-pocket expenses the
actual outlay of cash incurred. pocket
battleship hist. a
warship armoured and equipped like, but smaller than, a battleship. pocket
borough Brit. hist. a borough in which the
election of
political representatives
was controlled by
one person or
family. pocket gopher =
GOPHER(1) 1. pocket
knife a knife with a folding
blade or blades, for carrying in the pocket. pocket
money 1 money for
minor expenses. 2 Brit. an
allowance of money
made to a
child. put one's
hand in one's pocket
spend or
provide money. øøpocketable adj. pocketless adj. pockety adj. (in
sense 5 of n.). [ME f. AF poket(e) dimin. of poke POKE(2)]
