to pole
1
6.3
- verb
- /poʊl/
- Trees loomed above them through the mist like towering observers as they poled their way down the narrow channels that coursed through a system of small islands.
- pole the boat
- pole the skiff
- pole the canoe
Examples
-
We poled our way in a flat-bottomed fishing boat that scraped against marsh grass, and walked so far that we were exhausted, only to pole our way through more marsh in a boat we stole.
Fiction book (1991) -
But he was not strong enough to pole all the way across the swamp.
-
The men have poled a long way into the swamp.
-
Graham swims ahead of me as I pole myself along the bottom, hoping no fishermen are along the banks.
Academic text (1991) -
It's hard for Dayindi… it's his first time to pole the canoe.
-
Past decrepit and mournful willows, I poled, tense with adventure.
Fiction book (1991) -
The guide showed us how to pole the canoe through the narrow channel.
-
Using a long stick, she began to pole the small boat across the pond.
-
He carefully poles his raft along the shallow bank to avoid the rocks.
Synonyms
1
7.9
To move a flat bottom boat by pushing a long pole against the riverbed
Idioms
Refuse to be involved with people or things that seem dangerous and dishonest
Compounds
15
1.4
A long thin rod used to catch fish by holding a line and throwing it into the water
7
5.8
A tall carved wooden post made by northwest coast native people showing family or legend figures
4
4.8
A point on Earth where the force that makes compasses point goes straight down or up
- UK
4
2.5
A long thin pole with a pointed metal tip that skiers use to help balance and push on snow
1
2.9
A pole with red and white spiral stripes that shows where people get haircuts or shaves
- Specialized
1
8.8
One of the two points in the sky where the line Earth spins around seems to meet the stars
- Specialized
1
4.0
The end of a battery marked with a minus sign that connects to the black wire
- Specialized
1
8.2
A point in the sky above Earth's North Pole that stars appear to turn around and is near Polaris
- Specialized
1
7.2
The point in the sky above Earth's South Pole that the stars appear to turn around
- Specialized
1
3.5
A battery terminal marked with a plus sign that connects to the red wire
- Specialized
The end of a magnet that points toward Earth's north when it hangs freely
- Specialized
A long straight rod with red and white bands that people who measure land use to line up points
- UK
A long straight pole with red and white bands used to mark positions when measuring land
- Specialized
The end of a magnet that points toward the north when it hangs freely
A ski pole made from strong Tonkin cane bamboo that is flexible and lasts a long time
- Specialized
The end of a magnet that points toward the Earth's south when it hangs freely
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pole as a verb comes from the noun pole, a long stick. To 'pole' something simply means to use a pole to move or work with it, so the action is named after the tool.