n.
Pronunciation: ' p ō l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English p ā l stake, pole, from Latin palus stake; akin to Latin pangere to fix ― more at PACT
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a long slender usually cylindrical object (as a length of wood) b : a shaft which extends from the front axle of a wagon between wheelhorses and by which the wagon is drawn : TONGUE c : a long staff of wood, metal, or fiberglass used in the pole vault
2 : a varying unit of length especially : one equal to a rod (161/2 feet or about 5 meters)
3 : a tree with a breast-high diameter of from 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters)
4 : the inside front row position on the starting line for a race