Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A mischievous spirit in Irish folklore.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In Irish tradition, a spirit or spook in the form of a horse.
Wiktionary
- n. A fairy that appears in animal form, often large. It appears only to some people.
- n. A convenient storage location or hiding spot created by the arrangement or form of surrounding objects
- v. The act of storing an object in a pooka
Etymologies
- Irish púca, from Old Irish, probably from Old English pūca, goblin.
Examples
“I do know that the story involves the legendary Phinn McCool, some American cowboys, a pooka a species of human Irish devils endowed with magical powers named Fergus MacPhellimey and a cellar full of leprechauns.”
The Wall Street Journal: Flann O'Brien: Tall Tales, Long Drink
“A lot of the time it's leanan sidhe, although once in a while you might hear something about a pooka.”
“I don't understand what you're doing here with this pooka nonsense.”
“A winding narrative told the tale of a pooka who had spent an eternity of watching writers twist and burn under the weight of their own words.”
“Then he picked up an acoustic guitar for “Lovelier Than Thou,” a pooka-shell-ready beach ballad.”
The Washington Post: In concert: B.o.B. at Merriweather Post Pavilion
“It would make less sense though for one of the most powerful folks in the Marvel-verse to wear a pooka shell necklace and really long shorts.”
“I am especially fond of the lyrics. . . pooka pooka pooka, pooka pooka poo.”
“Let me attempt to provide a synopsis: A black kid picks up one of those picture-viewer dealies and sees some orange dudes with frosted tips and pooka shells singing a song on the beach singing… to him? what the hell is going on?”
“A pooka grazes peacefully where the river meets the sea”
“And the pooka shells, wow, the whole outfit is almost 40 years old!”
Lists
‘pooka’ hasn't been added to any lists yet.
palooka Palooka need to add pooka! Sep 24, 2007
bluemartian "P O O K A - Pooka - from old Celtic mythology - a fairy spirit in animal form - always very large. The pooka appears here and there - now and then - to this one and that one - a benign but mischievous creature - very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you, Mr. Wilson?" Sep 23, 2007
thinkcharlene Harvey Feb 14, 2007