pouch

noun \ ˈpau̇ch \

Definition of pouch

1 :a small drawstring bag carried on the person

2 a :a bag of small or moderate size for storing or transporting goods; specifically :a lockable bag for first-class mail or diplomatic dispatches

b chiefly Scotland :pocket

c :packet

3 :an anatomical structure resembling a pouch

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pouched

play \ˈpau̇cht\ adjective

See pouch defined for English-language learners

See pouch defined for kids

Examples of pouch in a Sentence

He carried his money in a small leather pouch in his pocket.
we sealed the catnip in a cloth pouch and tossed it to the cat

Recent Examples of pouch from the Web

The women were given bags of beads to wear around our necks, while the men were given empty pouches to wear.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "Two Hours of Touching Strange Men at Tantra Speed Dating," 29 Aug. 2017
It was reported at 2:52 p.m. Aug. 19 that a pouch containing hyperdermic needles and rubber bands was found in the 0-100 block of South La Grange Road.

— annemarie mannion, chicagotribune.com, "La Grange police blotter: College and U.S. flags stolen," 25 Aug. 2017
The inaugural fundraiser of $10,000 will benefit IBD research at Mayo Clinic, where Diekman had this three-part J-pouch surgery.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "Rangers’ Jake Diekman eagerly awaited these two moments," 16 Aug. 2017
A hole would be created surgically in my mother’s belly, out of which stool would exit into a pouch.

— dina keller moss, Washington Post, "My mother wanted a peaceful death at home. I nearly blew it for her.," 16 July 2017
Your choice of steak, chicken, pastor or carnitas is piled high on a base of either fried masa (sope) or folded into a masa pouch (gordita).

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Meal time or not, Supermercado Guanajuato is worth a stop | Review," 5 July 2017
Before leaving the orphanage, tourists are given a guide to pouch-checking.

— serena solomon, The Seattle Times, "A quest to save baby kangaroos on a lonely Australian highway," 30 June 2017
Joeys start to venture out of the pouch periodically at about 6 months old.

— serena solomon, The Seattle Times, "A quest to save baby kangaroos on a lonely Australian highway," 30 June 2017
Plus from Friday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 4th customers will receive a free palm tree pouch valued at $250 with purchases over $1,000.

— robyn mowatt, The Cut, "Here’s Your Master List of Every Good Fourth of July Sale," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pouch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pouch

Middle English pouche, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English pocca bag

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

pouch Synonyms

Synonyms

poke [chiefly Southern & Midland], bag, sack

Related Words

carryall, portmanteau, traveling bag, wallet; bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel; backpack, barracks bag, duffel bag, haversack, knapsack, rucksack, satchel, tote; handbag, pocketbook, purse, tote bag; ditty bag, flight bag, garment bag, kit bag, shopping bag, work bag

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

pouch

verb

Definition of pouch

transitive verb

1 :to put or form into or as if into a pouch

2 :to transmit by pouch

intransitive verb

1 :to bulge in a manner suggesting a pouch

pouching cheeks

2 :to transmit mail or dispatches by pouch

Examples of pouch in a Sentence

as he grew older, the skin on his neck pouched

First Known Use of pouch

circa 1566

pouch Synonyms

Synonyms

bag, balloon, beetle, belly, billow, bunch, jut, overhang, poke, pooch [chiefly dialect], bulge, pout, project, protrude, stand out, start, stick out, swell

Related Words

dome; blow up, inflate; dilate, distend, expand; mushroom, snowball; elongate, extend, lengthen, stretch

Near Antonyms

compress, condense, constrict, contract, shrink

POUCH Defined for English Language Learners

pouch

noun

Definition of pouch for English Language Learners

: a small bag
: a bag often with a lock that is used to carry letters or important papers
: a pocket of skin on the stomachs of some female animals (such as kangaroos and koalas) that is used to carry young