poky

[ poh-kee ]

adjective

, Informal.

, pok·i·er, pok·i·est.

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.

poky

/ ˈpəʊkɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   (esp of rooms) small and cramped
2. without speed or energy; slow

noun

1. the poky slang.
   the poky prison

Derived Forms

• ˈpokiness, noun
• ˈpokily, adverb

Other Words From

• poki·ly adverb
• poki·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of poky¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of poky¹

C19: from poke ¹(in slang sense: to confine)

Example Sentences

Actually flying it to the moon will be another matter, and Peregrine’s trip to the lunar surface will be a comparatively patient and poky one.

From Time

The spot was miles from anywhere, on the side of a hill whose poky desert plants scrape anyone who walks by, and over which wild horses keep watch.

From Popular-Science

The partners’ goal was making underwriting, the poky part in the middle, fully electronic.

From Fortune

“Come on,” she urged the poky car as it struggled up the slope.

From The Daily Beast

It's rather a poky place, you know, mamma, and in India I suppose the houses are all enormous.

From Project Gutenberg

It is monstrous to think of burying his talents in a poky little hole like Whitford.

From Project Gutenberg

We used to have a house, of course, before uncle died, and you know how poky rooms seem after that.

From Project Gutenberg

The children are behaving as well as can be, and Sykes too; and it's not a poky house, by any means.

From Project Gutenberg

Somehow Ebenezer did not seem just a poky old farm horse, as Twinkleheels had always regarded him.

From Project Gutenberg