Main Entry: ¹pole

Pronunciation: \ˈpōl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pāl 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