poke borack

• poke borak, poke borax

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

poke borack (third-person singular simple present pokes borack, present participle poking borack, simple past and past participle poked borack)

1. (intransitive, Australia, often with "at") To impart false information in an attempt to mislead.
   • 1888, Joseph Colin Francis Johnson, An Austral Christmas, page 10:

     […] and say, “Come on, Towball old boy, you′re old ′partment′s a waitin′ for you, sheets aired, and everything right.” Oh! he′s a awful cove for to poke borack at a feller, that old O'Neil.

2. (intransitive, Australia, often with "at") To ridicule.
   • 1881, Grey River Argus, [untitled article]‎^[1], page 2:

     The Thames people have earned among the members of the House of Representatives a reputation of the champion cadgers of New Zealand, and it was too bad of their member, who knows it very well, to poke "borak" at them in that unfeeling way.

   • 1885, Australasian Printers, editor, The Australasian Printers′ Keepsake, a Selection of Tales, Essays, Sketches, and Verse, by Victorian Compositors, page 154:

     One toff, who fancied himself, still kept poking borack; but Steve stopped his chyacking pretty quick, for he hauled off and let him have it.

   • 1905, John Arthur Barry, Steve Brown's Bunyip, and Other Stories, page 21:

     ‘Well, sir,’ replied Peter, rather sheepishly, ‘you see, they′re always a-poking borack an′ a-chiackin′ o′ me over in the hut because I′ve never seed nothin′. […] ’

   • 1910, Evening Post, Congestion of traffic‎^[2]:

     Mr. Brown, a member of the deputation, stated that when a driver was in difficulties with his horse, drivers of traction engines, instead of helping, started "giggling and poking borak at us !"

• (attempt to mislead): lead on, lead someone down the garden path, poke mullock
• (ridicule): chiack, jeer, mock