The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament.
Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state.
A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.
The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
Having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill.
A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander.
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.
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.
Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth's axis; as, the north pole.
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.
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.
The firmament; the sky.
See Polarity, and Polar, n.
To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops.
To convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn.
To impel by a pole or poles, as a boat.
To stir, as molten glass, with a pole.
