Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Slow; dull; stupid: said of persons.—2. Confined; cramped; musty; stuffy: said of places.
  • Poor; shabby.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Prov. Eng. Confined; cramped.
  • adjective colloq. Dull; tedious; uninteresting.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective slow
  • noun A gambling device based on the card game poker
  • adjective of a room or other enclosed space small and cramped
  • noun slang jail

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
  • adjective small and remote and insignificant
  • adjective wasting time

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

By shortening from poker machine ("gambling device")

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

This definition is lacking an etymology or has an incomplete etymology. You can help Wiktionary by giving it a proper etymology.

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Examples

  • When supper was announced, Polly happened to be talking, or trying to talk, to one of the "poky" gentlemen whom Fan had introduced.

    An Old-Fashioned Girl 1950

  • Barbara Leicester was always a frank and outspoken person, and the young people were sure to hear her opinion whenever they asked for it; but she herself seemed to grow younger, in these days, and Betty pleased her immensely one day, when it was mentioned that a certain person who wore caps, and was what Betty called "poky," was about Miss Barbara's age:

    Betty Leicester A Story For Girls Sarah Orne Jewett 1879

  • When supper was announced, Polly happened to be talking, or trying to talk, to one of the "poky" gentlemen whom Fan had introduced.

    An Old-Fashioned Girl Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888 1870

  • Charley found his boarding-house a little "poky," to borrow his own phrase, and he was pleased with Farnsworth's invitation.

    The Faith Doctor A Story of New York Edward Eggleston 1869

  • When supper was announced, Polly happened to be talking, or trying to talk, to one of the "poky" gentlemen whom Fan had introduced.

    An Old-Fashioned Girl Louisa May Alcott 1860

  • Not being too rapted in those "poky" little metal adjustment wheels, I'd go for a shim adjusted bridge with a bone insert.

    Mandolin Cafe News 2009

  • "Kenelm colored up some -- he always h'isted danger signals when women heave in sight -- and agreed that 'twas kind of poky bein 'all alone.

    Thankful's Inheritance Joseph Crosby Lincoln 1907

  • That 's the way we girls studied at school, except a few 'poky' ones, who wanted to be learned, or meant to be teachers. "

    Dred; A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp. Vol. I 1856

  • Mostly the film just seemed too poky and unnecessarily artsy.

    2009 December : Scrubbles.net 2009

  • The film gets a bit poky and dialogue-heavy at times, but both of us enjoyed it.

    Weekly Mishmash: February 21-27 : Scrubbles.net 2010

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