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Pocket sheriff

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Pocket \Pock"et\, n. [OE. poket, Prov. F. & OF. poquette, F.
   pochette, dim. fr. poque, pouque, F. poche; probably of
   Teutonic origin. See {Poke} a pocket, and cf. {Poach} to cook
   eggs, to plunder, and {Pouch}.]
   1. A bag or pouch; especially; a small bag inserted in a
      garment for carrying small articles, particularly money;
      hence, figuratively, money; wealth.

   2. One of several bags attached to a billiard table, into
      which the balls are driven.

   3. A large bag or sack used in packing various articles, as
      ginger, hops, cowries, etc.

   Note: In the wool or hop trade, the pocket contains half a
         sack, or about 168 Ibs.; but it is a variable quantity,
         the articles being sold by actual weight.

   4. (Arch.) A hole or space covered by a movable piece of
      board, as in a floor, boxing, partitions, or the like.

   5. (Mining.)
      (a) A cavity in a rock containing a nugget of gold, or
          other mineral; a small body of ore contained in such a
          cavity.
      (b) A hole containing water.

   6. (Nat.) A strip of canvas, sewn upon a sail so that a
      batten or a light spar can placed in the interspace.

   7. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Pouch}.

   Note: Pocket is often used adjectively, or in the formation
         of compound words usually of obvious signification; as,
         pocket comb, pocket compass, pocket edition, pocket
         handkerchief, pocket money, pocket picking, or
         pocket-picking, etc.

   {Out of pocket}. See under {Out}, prep.

   {Pocket borough}, a borough ``owned'' by some person. See
      under {Borough}. [Eng.]

   {Pocket gopher} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
      American rodents of the genera {Geomys}, and {Thomomys},
      family {Geomyd[ae]}. They have large external cheek
      pouches, and are fossorial in their habits. they inhabit
      North America, from the Mississippi Valley west to the
      Pacific. Called also {pouched gopher}.

   {Pocket mouse} (Zo["o]l.), any species of American mice of
      the family {Saccomyid[ae]}. They have external cheek
      pouches. Some of them are adapted for leaping (genus
      {Dipadomys}), and are called {kangaroo mice}. They are
      native of the Southwestern United States, Mexico, etc.

   {Pocket piece}, a piece of money kept in the pocket and not
      spent.

   {Pocket pistol}, a pistol to be carried in the pocket.

   {Pocket sheriff} (Eng. Law), a sheriff appointed by the sole
      authority of the crown, without a nomination by the judges
      in the exchequer. --Burrill.
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