Pouch Meaning
/paʊt͡ʃ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA small bag usually closed with a drawstring.
nounAn organic pocket in which a marsupial carries its young.
Sentence Examples
A female kangaroo carries its young in the pouch.
The joey snuggled down into the warm kangaroo pouch of his mother.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She stored her coins in a small leather ____ tied with a string.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The kangaroo carried her joey safely in her ____ as she hopped across the dry grassland.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *puhô Frankish *pokōbor. Old French puche Old Northern French pouchebor. Middle English pouche English pouch From Middle English pouche, poche, borrowed from Old Northern French pouche, from Old French poche, puche (whence French poche; compare also the Anglo-Norman variant poke), of Germanic origin: from Frankish *poka (“pouch”) (compare Middle Dutch poke, Old English pohha, dialectal German Pfoch). Doublet of poke; compare pocket.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…]form a large Pouch or Cyst"
— 1747, Samuel Sharp, A Treatise on the Operations of Surgery:
"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 […]"
— 1713, William Derham, Physico-theology, or a Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God:
"[…] 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 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 […]"
— 1820, Thomas Frederick Salter, The Trollerʻs Guide: A New and Complete Practical Treatise on the Art of Trolling Or Fishing for Jack and Pike:
"He pouched his mouth, and reared himself up and swelled; but answered me not."
— 1754, Samuel Richardson, The History of Sir Charles Grandison:
"And for the value of the gowden piece , it shall never be said I pouched her siller"
— 1822, [Walter Scott], The Pirate. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She stored her coins in a small leather ____ tied with a string.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The kangaroo carried her joey safely in her ____ as she hopped across the dry grassland.