■ noun ( plural ~s ) a wheel with a grooved rim around which a cord passes, used to raise heavy weights.
↘a wheel or drum fixed on a shaft and turned by a belt, used for the application or transmission of power.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~ed ) hoist with a ~.
Origin
ME: from OFr. polie , prob. from a med. Gk dimin. of polos 'pivot, axis'.