פָּקַם to split, perforate (cmp. פצם), esp. to prick an animal’s mouth with the bit; to govern. Num. R. s. 20 (ref. to Num. XXIII, 16) ‘he put a thing in his mouth’ כאדם שנותן … ופוֹקְמָהּ להיכן שירצה as a man puts a bit in the mouth of a beast and makes it go in what direction he desires; כך הקב"ה פוֹקֵם את פיו so the Lord pricked his (Balaam’s) mouth (making him ‘go back’ to Balak); Tanḥ. Balak 13; Y’lamd. to Num. l. c., quot. in Ar. היה פוקם … ופוקמה (ed. Koh. ופוקקה, corr. acc.).
Pi. - פִּיקֵּם same, to prick, perforate. Num. R. l. c. (ref. to Num. l. c. 5) שעיקם פיו ופִיקְּמוֹ וכ׳ he (the Lord) curved his mouth (as with a bit) and pierced it as a man drives a nail into a board; Yalk. ib. 765 עיקם את פיו ועקמו (corr. acc.).