puck

¹

[puhk]

noun

1. Ice Hockey.,  a black disk of vulcanized rubber that is to be hit into the goal.

2. Computers, British.,  mouse.

Puck

²

[puhk]

noun

1. Also called hobgoblin. Also called Robin Goodfellow. a particularly mischievous sprite in English folklore who appears as a character in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

2. puck, a malicious or mischievous demon or spirit; a goblin.

puck

¹

/ pʌk /

noun

1. a small disc of hard rubber used in ice hockey

2. a stroke at the ball in hurling

3. slang,  a sharp blow

verb

1. to strike (the ball) in hurling

2. slang,  to strike hard; punch

puck

²

/ pʌk /

noun

1. Also called: Robin Goodfellow. (often capital) a mischievous or evil spirit

Other Word Forms

• puckish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of puck¹

First recorded in 1890–95; alteration of poke ¹

Origin of puck²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English pouke, Old English pūca; cognate with Old Norse pūki a mischievous demon

Word History and Origins

Origin of puck¹

C19: of unknown origin

Origin of puck²

Old English pūca, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

But the billionaires—co-owners of a professional hockey team who have talked of “skating where the puck is going”—seized the opportunity to get in on the AI boom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The puck went in, the red goal light began flashing and Ovechkin screamed and leaped with joy to begin an extended celebration.

Read more on Barron's

Their kitchen pans were likely cast iron, gilded with bacon grease and seasoned until fried eggs slid across their surface like hockey pucks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The trade-war puck is heading toward an unfamiliar corner of the global arena, and one in which China has developed a surprising edge.

Read more on Barron's

Whether other sports leagues skate to where the puck is going remains to be seen.

Read more on Barron's