¦ noun
1. a knitted garment for the foot and lower part of the leg.
2. an insole.
3. a white marking on the lower part of a horse's leg.
4. informal a hard blow.
N. Amer. force or emphasis.
¦ verb informal
1. hit forcefully.
2. (sock something away) N. Amer. save up money.
3. (usu. be socked in) N. Amer. envelop or make impassable by inhospitable weather conditions: the beach was socked in with fog.
Phrases
knock (or blow) someone's socks off informal amaze or impress someone.
knock the socks off informal surpass or beat.
pull one's socks up informal make an effort to improve.
put a sock in it Brit. informal stop talking.
sock it to someone informal attack or make a forceful impression on someone.
Origin
OE socc 'light shoe', of Gmc origin, from L. soccus 'comic actor's shoe, light low-heeled slipper', from Gk sukkhos.