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pocket

1. A bag or pouch; especially; a small bag inserted in a garment for carrying small articles, particularly money; hence, figuratively, money; wealth.

2. One of several bags attached to a billiard table, into which the balls are driven.

3. A large bag or sack used in packing various articles, as ginger, hops, cowries, etc.

In the wool or hop trade, the pocket contains half sack, or about 168 Ibs.; but it is a variable quantity, the articles being sold by actual weight.

4. A hole or space covered by a movable piece of board, as in a floor, boxing, partitions, or the like.

5. (Science: chemical) A cavity in a rock containing a nugget of gold, or other mineral; a small body of ore contained in such a cavity. A hole containing water.

6. (Science: zoology) same as pouch.

Pocket is often used adjectively, or in the formation of compound words usually of obvious signification; as, pocket comb, pocket compass, pocket edition, pocket handkerchief, pocket money, pocket picking, or pocket-picking, etc. Out of pocket. See Out, Pocket borough, a borough owned by some person. See Borough. Pocket gopher, a sheriff appointed by the sole authority of the crown, without a nomination by the judges in the exchequer.

Origin: OE. Poket, Prov. F. & OF. Poquette, F. Pochette, dim. Fr. Poque, pouque, F. Poche; probably of Teutonic origin. See Poke a pocket, and cf. Poach to cook eggs, 48e to plunder, and Pouch.