Stoke

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: stōk, IPA: /stəʊk/
• Rhymes: -əʊk
• US enPR: stōk, IPA: /stoÊŠk/

From Middle English stoken, from Middle Dutch stoken ("to poke, thrust") or Middle Low German stoken ("to poke, thrust"), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stukōną ("to be stiff, push"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teug- ("to push, beat"). Cognate with Middle High German stoken ("to pierce, jab"), Norwegian Nynorsk stauka ("to push, thrust"). Alternative etymology derives the Middle English word from Old French estoquer, estochier ("to thrust, strike"), from the same Germanic source. More at stock.

Full definition of stoke

Verb

1. (transitive) To poke, pierce, thrust.

From a back-formation of stoker, apparently from Dutch stoker, from Dutch stoken ("to kindle a fire, incite, instigate"), from Middle Dutch stoken ("to poke, thrust"), from stock ("stick, stock"), see: tandenstoker. Ultimately the same word as above.

Verb

1. (transitive) To feed, stir up, especially, a fire or furnace.
2. (intransitive) To attend to or supply a furnace with fuel; to act as a stoker or fireman.
3. To stick; to thrust; to stab.
• ChaucerNor short sword for to stoke, with point biting.

Derived terms

• stokehole

Related terms

• stoker

Misconstruction of stokes

Noun

1. (physics) Misspelling of stokes (A unit of kinematic viscosity equal to that of a fluid with a viscosity of one poise and a density of one gram per millilitre)

Anagrams

• ketos, tokes