Definition of the word poker

The origin of the word "poker" is uncertain, but there are a few theories. One theory is that it comes from the 19th-century poker-like games played in the Mississippi River region, where players would use a wooden stick or "poke" to push chips or money across the table. Another theory suggests that it comes from the French word "poque," meaning "to prick or pierce," which was used to describe a type of fishing hook. A third theory proposes that it's related to the German word "pochen," which means "to play cards." Regardless of its true origin, the word "poker" was first used in the 1830s to describe the game, and has since become synonymous with the popular card game we know today.