Pouch

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /paÊŠt͡ʃ/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠtʃ

Origin

From Old Northern French pouche, borrowed from Old French poche, puche (whence French poche; compare also the Anglo-Norman variant poke), of Germanic origin: from Old Low Franconian *poka ("pouch") (compare Middle Dutch poke, Old English pocca, dialectal German Pfoch) or Frankish. Compare pocket, poke.

Full definition of pouch

Noun

1. A small bag usually closed with a drawstring.
2. A pocket in which a marsupial carries its young.
3. Any pocket or bag-shaped object, such as a cheek pouch.
4. (slang, dated, derogatory) A protuberant belly; a paunch.
5. A cyst or sac containing fluid.
6. (botany) A silicle, or short pod, as of the shepherd's purse.
7. A bulkhead in the hold of a vessel, to prevent grain etc. from shifting.

Synonyms

• marsupium

Verb

1. (transitive) To enclose within a pouch.
2. (transitive) To transport within a pouch, especially a diplomatic pouch.
   We pouched the encryption device to our embassy in Beijing.
3. (of fowls and fish) To swallow.
• 1713, William Derham, Physico-theology, or a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, And, to name no more, the common Heron hath its most remarkable Parts adapted to this Service; long Legs for wading; and a long Neck answerable thereto to reach Prey; a wide, extensive Throat to pouch it; long Toes, with strong hooked Talons ...
• 1820, Thomas Frederick Salter, The TrollerÊ»s Guide: A New and Complete Practical Treatise on the Art of Trolling Or Fishing for Jack and Pike, ...} but if they shake the line and move, after they have remained still three or four minutes, you may conclude the fish has pouched the bait and feels the hooks, then wind up your slack and and strike, but not violently, and always mind to keep the point of your rod a little raised while you are playing and killing your fish ...
4. (obsolete) To pout.
5. (obsolete) To pocket; to put up with.