spile

Spile is a heavy piece of wood, metal, concrete or other material that is driven into the ground and used as a support beam, or a plug or spout.

(noun)

  1. A large wood support beam driven into the ground is an example of a spile.
  2. A metal spout that can be driven into a maple tree to draw off the tree sap is an example of a spile.

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See spile in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a plug or spigot, as for a barrel
  2. ☆ a tap or spout driven into a maple tree to draw off sap
  3. a heavy stake or timber driven into the ground as a foundation or support

Origin: MDu, splinter, skewer, bar, spindle: for IE base see spike

transitive verb spiled, spiling

  1. to furnish or support with spiles, or stakes
  2. to set a spile into (a tree, barrel, etc.)
  3. to draw off (liquid) through a spile
  4. to stop up (a hole) with a spile, or plug

See spile in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A post used as a foundation; a pile.
  2. A wooden plug; a bung.
  3. A spigot used in taking sap from a tree.
transitive verb spiled spiled, spil·ing, spiles
  1. To support with a spile.
  2. To plug or tap with a spile.

Origin:

Origin: Dutch spijl, wooden pin

Origin: , from Middle Dutch spīle

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