Pole
/poʊl/noun
A long, slender, rounded piece of timber or metal.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, poles were often seen as conduits to the divine, used in rituals to connect earth and sky.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to drive or push, suggesting a strong, upright structure.”
Old English
Anglo-Saxon
pāla
“a stake or post, used for support or barrier.”
Middle English
Middle English
pole
“a long, slender piece of wood, often used in construction or navigation.”
16th Century
English
pole
“extended to refer to any long, slender object, especially in nautical contexts.”
Modern English
English
pole
“a term used for various long, cylindrical objects, retaining its original connotation of support and structure.”