Pooch
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "pooch" means to stick out or bulge - as in "pooch your lips" for a kiss or pout, or "pooch out your belly" after supper. It’s a colorful verb that paints a clear picture.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I’ve said 'pooch your lips' or 'pooch your belly out' my whole life - it's common out in the country. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I’ve said 'pooch your lips' or 'pooch your belly out' my whole life - it's common out in the country. Pronunciation
[POOCH]
/puːtʃ/
/puːtʃ/
Meaning & Usage
- To stick out, bulge, or protrude (verb)
Earl:
He done pooched out his belly like a bullfrog.
He done pooched out his belly like a bullfrog.
Hazel:
Well, he’s the one that ate three biscuits.
Well, he’s the one that ate three biscuits.variations: pooch out, pooch up
Origin and Etymology
Likely derived from older dialect words meaning "to pouch" or "to swell," appearing in early 20th-century Southern usage. The affectionate "pooch your lips" sense remains alive in much of Appalachia and the Deep South.
Usage Notes
Common in Southern and Appalachian speech, usually describing lips or bellies.
- Pooched lips - puckered or pushed out, often for a kiss or pout.
- Pooched belly - full or sticking out after eating.
- Used both playfully ("pooch your lips, sugar") and descriptively ("shirt pooched out in front").