A pig in a poke

A pig in a poke
Pig Pig, n. [Cf. D. big, bigge, LG. bigge, also Dan. pige girl, Sw. piga, Icel. p[=i]ka.] 1. The young of swine, male or female; also, any swine; a hog. ``Two pigges in a poke.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any wild species of the genus {Sus} and related genera. [1913 Webster]

3. [Cf. {Sow} a channel for melted iron.] An oblong mass of cast iron, lead, or other metal. See {Mine pig}, under {Mine}. [1913 Webster]

4. One who is hoggish; a greedy person. [Low] [1913 Webster]

{Masked pig}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Masked}.

{Pig bed} (Founding), the bed of sand in which the iron from a smelting furnace is cast into pigs.

{Pig iron}, cast iron in pigs, or oblong blocks or bars, as it comes from the smelting furnace. See {Pig}, 4.

{Pig yoke} (Naut.), a nickname for a quadrant or sextant.

{A pig in a poke} (that is, bag), a blind bargain; something bought or bargained for, without the quality or the value being known. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Pig in a poke — is an idiom that refers to a confidence trick originating in the Late Middle Ages, when meat was scarce but apparently rats and cats were not.The scheme entailed the sale of a suckling pig in a poke (bag). The wriggling bag actually contained a… …   Wikipedia

  • pig in a poke — If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • pig in a poke — pig′ in a poke′ n. something purchased, accepted, or acquired without a preliminary examination • Etymology: 1520–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • pig in a poke — something offered in such a way that the one to whom it is offered does not know exactly what the thing is nor what its real value is was too shrewd ever to buy a pig in a poke * * * something not adequately appraised or of undetermined value, as …   Useful english dictionary

  • pig in a poke — {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. * /Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pig in a poke — {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. * /Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pig in a poke — Date: 1562 something offered in such a way as to obscure its real nature or worth < unwilling to buy a pig in a poke > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pig\ in\ a\ poke — n. phr. An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water …   Словарь американских идиом

  • pig in a poke —    If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • pig in a poke — See a pig in a poke …   English idioms

  • pig in a poke — something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully The stereo system he bought was a pig in a poke. He has no idea if it will work well …   Idioms and examples

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