puck

1 of 2

noun (1)

plural pucks
Synonyms of pucknext
1
: a vulcanized rubber disk used in ice hockey
2
: something (such as a food item) that resembles a puck
It is imperative to remove the coffee puck after each brew.Ethan Miller
The gourmet burger revolution has swept into backyards and decks, as home cooks forgo frozen pucks of beef for fresh homemade patties.Eric Vellend
There are GPS pucks in all buses that track the bus.Tina Deetz, quoted in UWIRE Text

puck

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural pucks
1
: a mischievous sprite : hobgoblin
specifically, Puck : robin goodfellow
2
archaic : an evil spirit : demon

Examples of puck in a Sentence

Noun (2) dreamed that her garden was the secret meeting place of pucks and sprites
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With the game tied 1-1 heading into the final nine minutes, Vasilevskiy fought off Lane Hutson’s wrister from the top of the left circle with his blocker, sending the puck high in the air and hard off the end boards. Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026 Just before the puck dropped Saturday night, the league released the full schedule for the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 3 May 2026 Doan beat both Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy for the puck in the left corner and, with Lindholm late in getting back, Doan sent it out front for the wide-open Zach Benson for the debilitating goal. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026 On the rush, Keller controlled the loose puck just inside the left circle and flicked a shot off the back post into the net. ABC News, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for puck

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

English dialect puck to poke, hit, probably from Irish poc butt, stroke in hurling, literally, buck (male deer)

Noun (2)

Middle English puke, from Old English pūca; akin to Old Norse pūki devil

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of puck was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puck. Accessed 4 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

puck

1 of 2 noun
: a fairy or spirit who plays tricks on human beings

puck

2 of 2 noun
: a rubber disk used in ice hockey
Etymology

Noun

Old English pūca "evil spirit"

Noun

from a dialect word puck "to hit, poke," probably from Irish poc "butt, stroke in hurling," literally, "buck (male deer)"

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