DCHP-3

poke ((2))

[see note]
North
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

1n.

a sealskin bag used as a buoy or float.

See: dan(def 1.)
This word appears to have come into northern use via Eskimo poq, puq bag; perhaps borrowed from early whalers in this sense.

Quotations

1931
Formerly the Eskimos killed walruses with spears. The spear would not kill them outright, of course, but attached to it was a long sealskin line at the end of which was fastened an inflated sealskin bag called a pok.
2n.

a sealskin bag used by Eskimos for storing or transporting seal or whale oil.

See: dan(def. 2)

Quotations

1924
On a large staging we see a number of seals, pokes of seal oil, a green polar bear skin and other . . . articles.
1946
. . . these pokes when filled with blubber weighed from 150 to 200 pounds.