hoist

American  

[hoist, hahyst] / hɔɪst, haɪst /

verb (used with object)

1. to raise or lift, especially by some mechanical appliance.

   to hoist a flag; to hoist the mainsail.

   Synonyms:

   elevate

   Antonyms:

   lower

2. to raise to one's lips and drink; drink (especially beer or whiskey) with gusto.

   Let's go hoist a few beers.

3. Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of hoise.

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noun

1. an apparatus for hoisting, as a block and tackle, a derrick, or a crane.

2. act of hoisting; a lift.

   Give that sofa a hoist at your end.

3. Nautical.

   1. the vertical dimension amidships of any square sail that is hoisted with a yard.

   2. the distance between the hoisted and the lowered position of such a yard.

   3. the dimension of a fore-and-aft sail along the luff.

   4. a number of flags raised together as a signal.

4. (on a flag)

   1. the vertical dimension as flown from a vertical staff.

   2. the edge running next to the staff.

idioms

1. hoist by / with one's own petard. petard.

hoist British  

/ hɔɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to raise or lift up, esp by mechanical means

2. See petard

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noun

1. any apparatus or device for hoisting

2. the act of hoisting

3. See rotary clothesline

4. nautical

   1. the amidships height of a sail bent to the yard with which it is hoisted Compare drop

   2. the difference between the set and lowered positions of this yard

5. nautical the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

6. nautical a group of signal flags

7. the inner edge of a flag next to the staff Compare fly 1

Related Words

See raise.

Other Word Forms

• hoister noun
• unhoisted adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoist

First recorded in 1540–50; later variant of hoise, with -t as in against, etc.

Example Sentences

Swinging hard and heavy, they hoisted the bananas up to the roof to ripen.

From Literature

Companies had raised prices last year after tariffs hoisted costs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Each time, it was harder for Jonathan to hoist Abby up and over.

From Literature

Then he led a raucous singalong to his nostalgic hit “DTMF” as a crowd hoisted the flags of nations across Latin America behind him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Grab hold of something and hoist yourself aboard.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• erect
• heave
• pick up