forepole

[ noun fawr-pohl, fohr-; verb fawr-pohl, fohr- ]

/ noun ˈfɔrˌpoʊl, ˈfoʊr-; verb fɔrˈpoʊl, foʊr- /

Mining.

noun

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), fore·poled, fore·pol·ing.

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

Nearby words

forepaw, forepeak, foreperson, foreplay, forepleasure, forepole, forequarter, forequarters, forereach, forerun, forerunner

Origin of forepole

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; fore- + pole¹