Poking stick

A poking stick is a stick typically found standing around houses with the designated purpose of poking things, e.g. nudging trapdoors in the ceiling, removing cobwebs, etc. Poking sticks typically have a designated handling end which may be decorated with extra carvings, painted, etc. It is not uncommon for new poking sticks to be perfectly plain, with small decorations being into them over time when their owners are idling while they have company. This is done to signal that they keep busy; e.g. that the house being orderly is their work. See: Orderliness.