hoist

[ hoist or, sometimes, hahyst ]

/ hɔɪst or, sometimes, haɪst /

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See synonyms for: hoist / hoisted 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. 31).
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 fly² (def. 30b).

OTHER WORDS FOR hoist

1 elevate.

See synonyms for hoist on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR hoist

1 lower.

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Idioms about hoist

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

Origin of hoist

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

synonym study for hoist

1. See raise.

OTHER WORDS FROM hoist

hoister, nounun·hoist·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hoist in a sentence

Regardless, there could be a sidewalk full of sign-hoisting demonstrators outside the CDC if the recommendations are confirmed.
Anti-Cutters Slam New CDC Recommendations on Circumcision|Nina Strochlic|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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

Waiters hoisting massive, gooey hazelnut dacquoise cakes spoon-feed the dancing guests encircling the stage.
A Mad Feast Is the Next 'Sleep No More'|Nina Strochlic|February 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The boats are housed on this deck, and there is steam hoisting gear for steam launch and larger boats.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
Our vessels paid him the more modest compliment of one royal salute, and hoisting the French imperial ensign.
The British Expedition to the Crimea|William Howard Russell
Any one who intends to construct hoisting tackle ought to provide himself with beams and small cables.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
The (p. 251) crew were hard at work hoisting shot and shells from the hold to the deck.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
The smaller boats were at once lowered, while the carpenter and boatswain set to work to erect shears for hoisting out the launch.
The Missing Ship|W. H. G. Kingston

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 forms of hoist

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

hoist

OTHER WORDS FOR hoist

OPPOSITES FOR hoist

Idioms about hoist

Origin of hoist

synonym study for hoist

OTHER WORDS FROM hoist

Words related to hoist

How to use hoist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hoist

Derived forms of hoist

Word Origin for hoist