hoist

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To raise or lift something heavy, often using ropes, pulleys, or other equipment.

   They hoisted the piano up to the apartment with a crane.

2. 2
   verb

   To raise a flag or sail up a pole or mast.

   At dawn the crew hoisted the sails and set off.

3. 3
   verb

   To lift a trophy or prize into the air to celebrate a victory.

   The captain hoisted the cup high above his head as the crowd roared.

Alteration of earlier hoise (“to hoist”), apparently based on the past tense forms, from Middle Dutch hisen (“to hoist”). Compare modern Dutch hijsen (“to hoist”), German hissen (“to hoist”), Danish hejse (“to hoist”). Compare also French hisser (“to hoist”), Galician isar (“to hoist”), Spanish izar (“to hoist”), Catalan hissar (“to hoist”), Italian issare (“to hoist”), Portuguese içar (“to hoist”), Sicilian jisari (“to hoist”), all borrowed from a Germanic source.

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