poky

American  

[poh-kee] / ˈpoʊ ki /

adjective

Informal.

pokier, pokiest

1. moving or acting slowly or ineffectively; slow; dull.

   poky drivers.

2. (of a place) small and cramped.

   a poky little room.

3. (of dress) dowdy.

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poky British  

/ ˈpəʊkɪ /

adjective

1. informal (esp of rooms) small and cramped

2. without speed or energy; slow

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noun

1. slang prison

Other Word Forms

• pokily adverb
• pokiness noun

Etymology

Origin of poky

First recorded in 1825–30; poke ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

Someone who moves very slowly is poky. When you try to take your poky dog on a jog, she'll stop to sniff every bush and blade of grass along the way. Wasting time, dawdling, or being annoying and boring are all ways to get called poky: "I need a new computer — my poky old laptop takes forever to do anything." In Britain this adjective is sometimes used in a completely opposite way, to mean "speedy" or "quick to accelerate": "Her car is much more poky than it looks!"

Example Sentences

In a world of cautious Catalans and poky Petroffs, the King’s Gambit can guarantee an interesting outing.

From Washington Times • Jan. 17, 2023

Almost all runners, whether veterans or newcomers, poky or fleet, youthful or antique, share one bond.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2022

Sometimes you cut your finger on a poky throne.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2022

Or were they simply too slow and poky, and now they have to wait some more?

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2020

There are a few poky stores—one that buys used goods, another that sells fake jewelry.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins