pole

English

/pəʊl/, /poʊl/, [pʰoʊ̯ɫ], [pʰoʊ̯ɫ], /pɔːl/

noun
Definitions
  • Originally, a stick; now specifically, a long and slender piece of metal or (especially) wood, used for various construction or support purposes.
  • (angling) A type of basic fishing rod.
  • A long sports implement used for pole-vaulting; now made of glassfiber or carbon fiber, formerly also metal, bamboo and wood have been used.
  • (slang) A telescope used to identify birds, aeroplanes or wildlife.
  • (historical) A unit of length, equal to a rod ( chain or yards).
  • (motor racing) pole Pole position.
  • (US) A gun.
  • (vulgar) A penis

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pole inherited from Old English pāl (post, a pole, a kind of hoe spade, stake) inherited from Proto-Germanic *palaz derived from Latin pālus (stake, prop, pale, post, pole, stay) derived from Proto-Indo-European *pāǵe- (fasten, nail), *peh₂ǵ- (attach, fix, fasten, hang).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*peh₂ǵ-

Gloss

attach, fix, fasten, hang

Concept
Semantic Field

Basic actions and technology

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms