pole

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   one of two divergent or mutually exclusive opinions

   they are at opposite poles

2. 2
   verb

   support on poles

   pole climbing plants like beans

3. 3
   verb

   propel with a pole

   pole barges on the river

4. 4
   noun

   Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes.

   For a spell we done pretty well. Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand.

5. 5
   noun

   A wicket, especially in the context of the number of wickets taken by a particular bowler.

   Only three cricketers have taken all 10 poles in a Test innings.

6. 6
   verb

   To propel by pushing with poles, to push with a pole.

   Huck Finn poled that raft southward down the Mississippi because going northward against the current was too much work.

7. 7
   verb

   To identify something quite precisely using a telescope.

   He poled off the serial of the Gulfstream to confirm its identity.

8. 8
   verb

   To furnish with poles for support.

   to pole beans or hops

Etymology

From Middle English pole, pal, from Old English pāl (“a pole, stake, post; a kind of hoe or spade”), from Proto-West Germanic *pāl (“pole”), from Latin pālus (“stake, pale, prop, stay”), perhaps from Old Latin *paxlos, from Proto-Italic *pākslos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ǵ- (“to nail, fasten”). Doublet of peel, pale, and palus. Cognates Cognate with Scots pale, paill (“stake, pale”), North Frisian pul, pil (“stake, pale”), Saterland Frisian Pool (“pole”), West Frisian poal (“pole”), Dutch paal (“pole”), German Pfahl (“pile, stake, post, pole”), Danish pæl (“pole”), Swedish påle…