hoist

[ hoist or, sometimes, hahyst ]

/ hɔɪst or, sometimes, haɪst /

|||

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

hoiden, hoihow, hoise, hoisin, hoisin sauce, hoist, hoist by one's own petard, hoity-toity, hojo, hoka, hokan

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.

ANTONYMS FOR hoist

1 lower.

Related forms

hoist·er, nounun·hoist·ed, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for hoisting

They filed past hoisting homemade flags, university flags, Mexican flags, flags that said “Ayotzi Vive.”
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
History has no shortage of rogue explorers seizing land, hoisting their flags, and building new societies.
So You Want to Rule a Kingdom? A Wacky History of One-Man Nations|Nina Strochlic|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile on the streets, dissatisfied Nigerians are hoisting signs reading, “Please Find Our Daughters” and “Can Anyone Hear Me?”
A Hashtag May Help Rescue Jihadi-Enslaved Nigerian Schoolgirls|Nina Strochlic|May 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it also could create a problem for Chávez, hoisting Jaua into the national spotlight.
Hugo Chávez Wins Reelection and Looks to the Future|Mac Margolis|October 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST

People rush in, grabbing one boombox and then another, hoisting them up on their shoulders or in the air.
Decentralized Dance Parties: Raves’ Next Wave|Winston Ross|February 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The cage containing the odalisk is raised on a hoisting rope so that it hangs in midair with the doors open.
Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography|Albert A. Hopkins
Peter Walsh was hoisting a sail, a gunter lug, on the Tortoise.
Priscilla's Spies|George A. Birmingham
The hoisting was done by a small Lidgerwood compressed-air hoister, and set up on an overhead platform across the tunnel.
Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. LXVIII, Sept. 1910|B. H. M. Hewett
Rejoicing at my fortunate escape, I gave the valiant Semmes a parting shot by hoisting the signal 'Good-by.'
The Naval History of the United States|Willis J. Abbot.
The two vessels were then towed out of the harbor, and hoisting sail made for Port Royal.
One of the 28th|G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for hoisting

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 Forms

hoister, 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