Beanpole
/ˈbiːnˌpoʊl/noun
A very tall, thin person.
Did you know?Unlike words like “nightmare” or “disaster,” “beanpole” is not ancient magic language; it’s a vivid English compound that simply compares a person’s shape to a pole used for climbing beans.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bēan
“bean, the edible seed of certain plants”
Old English
OE
pōl
“pool, puddle, or small body of standing water”
Middle English
ME
bean pole
“a pole used to support bean plants”
19th Century
English
beanpole
“a pole for beans; later, a very tall, thin person”
Modern English
English
beanpole
“a very tall, thin person”