nudge

Meaning

1. A gentle push.
2. A feature of instant messaging software used to get the attention of another user, as by shaking the conversation window or playing a sound.
3. The rotation by one step of a fruit machine reel of the player's choice.
4. The use of positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence.

poke

poke at

touch lightly

shoulder in

push slightly

shove slightly

push gently

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/nʌd͡ʒ/

Circa 17th century, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian nugge, nyggje (“to push, rub, shove”), Icelandic nugga (“to rub, massage”), from the root of Proto-Germanic *hnōjaną (“to smooth, join together”), from Proto-Indo-European *kneh₂- (compare Ancient Greek κνάω (knáō, “to scratch, scrape”), source of English acnestis). Compare also Scots nodge (“to push, poke, nudge”), knidge (“to push, squeeze”), gnidge (“to rub, press, squeeze, bruise”), and knudge (“to squeeze, press down with the knuckles”), Saterland Frisian Nukke, Nuk (“a sudden push”), Middle Low German nucke, nücke, gnücke (“a sudden push, shock, impetus”). Compare also dialectal nuch (“to tremble”), Middle English nuchen (“to tremble”).