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

Example Sentences

That’s not very comforting to folks stuck in a long line on an entrance ramp, waiting for the privilege of heading down the highway more pokily than they could jog.

From Los Angeles Times

"Every time you'd go out with friends, there was pokies available," she says.

From BBC

Heading into a state election on Saturday, the conservative coalition has promised to rein in the powerful "pokies" industry in a jurisdiction with nearly one-tenth of the world's million machines, second only to Las Vegas.

From Reuters

The NSW poker machine industry has amassed the most "pokies", as they are called in Australia, of any jurisdiction outside Nevada and the state's powerful pubs and clubs lobby has significant influence over political leaders.

From Reuters

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

From Washington Times