noun

1. a long, slender piece of wood, metal, etc. usually rounded a tent pole, flagpole, fishing pole
2. a tapering wooden shaft extending from the front axle of a wagon or carriage and attached by chains or straps to the collars of a span of horses
3. a unit of measure, equal to one rod in linear measure (5.029 m) or one square rod in square measure (25.29 sq m)
4. an assigned starting position at a racetrack, in the front row if there is more than one row and in the innermost lane

Etymology: ME < OE pal < L palus, pale

transitive verb, intransitive verb poled, poling pol′·ing

1. ☆ to push along (a boat or raft) with a pole
2. to manipulate, impel, support, etc. with or as with a pole