pogey

[ poh-gee ]

/ ˈpoʊ gi /

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noun, plural po·geys.

Slang.Also pogy.

a package of food, candy, or other treats sent to a child at boarding school, a person in an institution, etc.
candy or a treat.

Canadian Slang.

an institution maintained by private charities or government funds for the housing of the aged, sick, orphaned, or feeble-minded; an old-age home, charity hospital, orphanage, or the like.
any form of charity or government relief.
unemployment insurance provided by the government.

adjective Canadian Slang.

of, relating to, or obtained through charity or government relief: pogey shoes.

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Origin of pogey

First recorded in 1890–95; earlier pogie workhouse < ?

Words nearby pogey

Poets are born, not made, po-faced, pog, pogamoggan, Pogany, pogey, pogey bait, pogge, POGO, pogonia, pogonip

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pogey in a sentence

That fire threatened Enchanted, once it should sweep through the chimney draught of Pogey Notch.
King Spruce, A Novel|Holman Day
“And if they can get enough men ahead of it perhaps they can stop it in Pogey Notch,” Lane concluded.
King Spruce, A Novel|Holman Day
Mr. Wade has left the top of the mountain with the girl, and will meet Mr. Barrett to the south of Pogey Notch.
King Spruce, A Novel|Holman Day
And roaring a good-natured cheer over their shoulders, the “Busters” filed away into the mouth of Pogey Notch.
King Spruce, A Novel|Holman Day

Had not the wind been at their backs, whistling from the north, the passage of Pogey Notch would have proved a savage encounter.
King Spruce, A Novel|Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for pogey

pogey

pogy

/ (ˈpəʊɡɪ) /

noun plural pogeys or pogies Canadian slang

financial or other relief given to the unemployed by the government; dole

unemployment insurance

the office distributing relief to the unemployed
(as modifier)pogey clothes

Word Origin for pogey

C20: from earlier pogie workhouse, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012