hoist

[ hoist or, sometimes, hahyst ]

/ hɔɪst or, sometimes, haɪst /

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoist ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to raise or lift, especially by some mechanical appliance: to hoist a flag; to hoist the mainsail.

to raise to one's lips and drink; drink (especially beer or whiskey) with gusto: Let's go hoist a few beers.

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

noun

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

act of hoisting; a lift: Give that sofa a hoist at your end.

Nautical.

the vertical dimension amidships of any square sail that is hoisted with a yard.Compare drop(def 28).
the distance between the hoisted and the lowered position of such a yard.
the dimension of a fore-and-aft sail along the luff.
a number of flags raised together as a signal.

(on a flag)

the vertical dimension as flown from a vertical staff.
the edge running next to the staff.Compare fly¹(def 30b).

Nearby words

Idioms

hoist by/with one's own petard. petard(def 4).

Origin of hoist

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

SYNONYMS FOR hoist

1. elevate. See raise.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoist ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR hoist

1. lower.

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Related formshoist·er, nounun·hoist·ed, adjective

hoise

[ hoiz ]

/ hɔɪz /

verb (used with object), hoised or hoist, hois·ing. Archaic.

to hoist.

Origin of hoise

1500–10; compare earlier hissa a cry used in hauling, and huzzah

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hoist

Hoist that big historical asterisk skyward and place it next to his name.
The GOP’s Audacious Impeachment Spin Job|Michael Tomasky|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Carter scurried back to Mace and reached down to hoist him up.
Ty Carter Awarded Medal of Honor|David Eisler, Jake Tapper|August 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But a significant number of your fellow citizens have a very different vision as they hoist the flag.
We’re Not a Christian Nation|Fred Rich|July 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But the regime's canons push them back before they can hoist their flag over the liberated barracks.
Syria: Would a No-Fly Zone Help the Rebels Oust Assad?|Barak Barfi|September 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Republicans beyond Romney were also quick to hoist the “repeal” banner—calling a vote in the House on July 9.
Mitt Romney’s Empty Obamacare-Repeal Rhetoric|John Avlon|June 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The boats were cast adrift, as the crews were too exhausted to hoist them in, and the Flamingo's nose was turned toward Liverpool.
A Master of Fortune|Cutcliffe Hyne
There he would ride out the storm and hoist sail when the weather moderated.
The Old Merchant Marine|Ralph D. Paine
Heave again, and, when you are a-weigh, put the helm to port and hoist the jib.
The Seaman's Friend|Richard Henry Dana
Helm a-lee; bring the main-tack aboard, haul the bowlines, hoist the top-gallants.
Gargantua and Pantagruel, Complete.|Francois Rabelais
The kettle to the top was hoist, And there stood fastened to a joist; But with the upside down, to show Its inclination for below.
The Battle of the Books|Jonathan Swift

British Dictionary definitions for hoist

hoist

/ (hɔɪst) /

verb

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

hoist with one's own petard See petard (def. 2)

noun

any apparatus or device for hoisting

the act of hoisting

See rotary clothesline

nautical

the amidships height of a sail bent to the yard with which it is hoistedCompare drop (def. 15)
the difference between the set and lowered positions of this yard

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

nautical a group of signal flags

the inner edge of a flag next to the staffCompare fly 1 (def. 25)

Derived Formshoister, noun

Word Origin for hoist

C16: variant of hoise, probably from Low German; compare Dutch hijschen, German hissen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hoist

hoist

1540s, "to raise," earlier hoise (c.1500), probably originally past tense of Middle English hysse (late 15c.), which is probably from Middle Dutch hyssen (Dutch hijsen) "to hoist," related to Low German hissen and Old Norse hissa upp "raise." A nautical word found in most European languages (e.g. French hisser, Italian issare, Spanish izar), but it is uncertain which had it first. Related: Hoisted; hoisting. In phrase hoist with one's own petard, it is the past participle.

For 'tis the sport, to have the engineer
Hoist with his own petar: and it shall go hard
But I will delve one yard below their mines,
And blow them at the moon: O 'tis most sweet,
When in one line two crafts directly meet.
["Hamlet," Act III, Scene iv]

Meaning "to lift and remove" was prevalent c.1550-1750. As a noun, 1650s, from the verb.

hoist

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of hoist

hoise

verb (used with object), hoised or hoist, hois·ing. Archaic.

Origin of hoise

Examples from the Web for hoist

hoist

verb

noun

Word Origin for hoist

hoist