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forepole

American  
[fawr-pohl, fohr-, fawr-pohl, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌpoʊl, ˈfoʊr-, fɔrˈpoʊl, foʊr- /

noun

  1. Also called spile, spill.  any of a number of boards or timbers driven forward on top of a set to protect miners lengthening a tunnel from falling debris.

verb (used with object)

forepoled, forepoling

  1. to reinforce (the end of an excavated tunnel) with forepoles.

Etymology

Origin of forepole

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; fore- + pole 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The earth, now warm, shifted; the first forepole slipped; loose rock fell from the face of the tunnel and caused a shield to give way.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.