Moke is a term used in the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

as slang for "donkey". In Australia it refers to a nag or inferior horse, and is employed by residents of the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...

in similar fashion as the British to derogatorily describe segments of the local Polynesian population. In practice, the word "moke" is similar to "redneck", as it is only used to describe a certain personality type, instead of an entire ethnic group. Stamp of Albania - 1966 - Colnect 197286 - Donkey Equus africanus asinus

Stamp of Albania - 1966 - Colnect 197286 - Donkey Equus africanus asinus

In literature

Later portrayals include

W. S. Merwin William Stanley Merwin (September 30, 1927 – March 15, 2019) was an American poet who wrote more than fifty books of poetry and prose, and produced many works in translation. During the 1960s anti-war movement, Merwin's unique craft was thema ...

's ''The Folding Cliffs'', and

Paul Theroux Paul Edward Theroux (born April 10, 1941) is an American novelist and travel writer who has written numerous books, including the travelogue, '' The Great Railway Bazaar'' (1975). Some of his works of fiction have been adapted as feature films. He ...

's ''Hotel Honolulu''. Also of note is the reference in Captain

Joshua Slocum Joshua Slocum (February 20, 1844 – on or shortly after November 14, 1909) was the first person to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Nova Scotian-born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he wr ...

's ''Voyage of the Liberdade'', where the term refers to a native of the Bahamas. J. R. R. Tolkien uses the word in the poem "Perry the Winkle;" e.g., "then all the people went with a will, by pony, cart, or moke".

Also see

* Moke, definition on Wiktionary * Mook, definition on Wiktionary *

Mini Moke The Mini Moke (styled "MOKE") is a small, front-wheel-drive utility and recreational convertible, conceived and manufactured as a lightweight military vehicle by British Motor Corporation (BMC), and subsequently marketed for civilian use under ...

, small British utility vehicle (styled "

MOKE Moke may refer to: Places * Moke (Bihar, India), a village * Moke Lake, South Island, New Zealand * Na Mokulua, two small Hawaiian islands known together as "The Mokes" People * Hans Moke Niemann (born 2003), American chess grandmaster * ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moke (Slang) Hawaii culture Hawaiian words and phrases