■ noun
1》 a tall vertical structure, usually of stone, used as a support for a building or as an ornament or monument.
2》 a person or thing providing reliable support: he was a ~ of his local community.
Phrases
from ~ to post from one place to another in an unceremonious or fruitless manner.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~et noun
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. piler , based on L. pila '~'.