red-hot poker

noun

: a south African herb (Kniphofia uvaria) of the lily family having long linear leaves and tall spikes of bright red, orange-red, or yellow flowers

Examples of red-hot poker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rumors that Edward II had been gruesomely executed by having a red-hot poker inserted into his backside spread quickly, likely started by his political enemies. NBC News, 18 Oct. 2021 The image on one side is a skewed view of nature — a field or garden full of red-hot poker plants, their spiky crimson and yellow flowers shown in human-size close-up, pressed against the picture plane. Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2021 Examples of easy-to-plant perennials are bear's breeches, hostas, and red-hot pokers. Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red-hot poker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red-hot poker was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near red-hot poker

Cite this Entry

“Red-hot poker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red-hot%20poker. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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