Pole , n. [L. polus, Gr. &?; a pivot or hinge on which anything turns, an axis, a pole; akin to
&?; to move: cf. F. pôle.]
1. Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth's axis;
as, the north pole.
2. (Spherics) A point upon
the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in
which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of
such circle meets the surface. Such a point
is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the
horizon; the pole of the
ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian.
3. (Physics) One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar
force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two
such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the
north pole of a needle.
4. The firmament; the sky. [Poetic]
Shoots against the dusky pole.
Milton. 5. (Geom.) See Polarity, and Polar, n.
Magnetic pole. See under Magnetic. -- Poles of the earth, or Terrestrial poles (Geog.), the two opposite points on the earth's surface through which its axis passes. -- Poles of the heavens, or Celestial poles, the
two opposite points in the celestial sphere which coincide with the earth's axis
produced, and about which the heavens appear to revolve.
Pole , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poled (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Poling.]
1. To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops.
2. To convey on
poles; as, to pole hay into a barn.
3. To impel by a pole or poles,
as a boat.
4. To stir, as molten glass, with a pole.
Pole , n. [As. pāl, L. palus, akin to pangere to make fast. Cf. Pale a stake, Pact.]
1. A long, slender piece of wood; a tall, slender piece of timber; the stem of a small tree whose branches have been removed; as, specifically: (a) A carriage pole, a wooden bar
extending from the front axle of
a carriage between the wheel horses, by which the carriage is guided and held back. (b) A flag pole, a pole on which a flag
is supported. (c) A Maypole. See Maypole. (d) A barber's pole, a pole painted in stripes, used as a sign by barbers and hairdressers.
(e) A pole on which
climbing beans, hops, or other vines, are
trained.
2. A measuring stick; also, a measure of length equal to 5&?; yards, or a
square measure equal to 30&?; square yards; a rod; a perch. Bacon.
Pole bean (Bot.), any kind of bean
which is customarily trained on poles,
as the scarlet runner or the Lima bean. -- Pole flounder (Zoöl.),
a large deep-water flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), native of the
northern coasts of Europe and America, and much esteemed as a food fish; --
called also craig flounder, and pole fluke. -- Pole lathe, a simple form
of lathe, or
a substitute for a lathe, in which the
work is turned by means of a cord passing around it, one end being
fastened to the treadle, and the other to
an elastic pole above. -- Pole mast (Naut.),
a mast formed from a
single piece or from a single tree. -- Pole of a lens (Opt.), the point where the principal axis meets the surface. -- Pole plate (Arch.), a horizontal timber resting on the tiebeams of a roof and receiving the ends of the rafters. It differs from the plate in not resting on the wall.
Pole (?), n. [Cf. G. Pole a
Pole, Polen Poland.]
A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.
Hear it pronounced