hoist

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

hoist, v. t. [OE. hoise, hyse, OD. hyssen, D. hijshen; akin to LG. hissen, Dan. hisse, Sw. hissa.].

 To raise; to lift; to elevate; esp., to raise or lift to a desired elevation, by means of tackle, as a sail, a flag, a heavy package or weight.  [1913 Webster]
"They land my goods, and hoist my flying sails."  [1913 Webster]
"Hoisting him into his father's throne."  [1913 Webster]

Hoisting engine, a steam engine for operating a hoist.

hoist, n. 

•  That by which anything is hoisted; the apparatus for lifting goods.  [1913 Webster]
•  The act of hoisting; a lift.  [1913 Webster]
•  The perpendicular height of a flag, as opposed to the fly, or horizontal length when flying from a staff.  Totten.  [1913 Webster]

Hoist bridge, a drawbridge that is lifted instead of being swung or drawn aside.

hoist, p. p. 

 Hoisted.  [1913 Webster]
"'T is the sport to have the enginer
Hoist with his own petar."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hoist, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 raise or haul up.
2 raise by means of ropes and pulleys etc.
--n.
1 an act of hoisting, a lift.
2 an apparatus for hoisting.
3 a the part of a flag nearest the staff. b a group of flags raised as a signal.

Idiom

hoist the flag stake one's claim to discovered territory by displaying a flag. hoist one's flag signify that one takes command. hoist with one's own petard see PETARD.

Derivative

hoister n.

Etymology

16th c.: alt. of hoise f. (15th-c.) hysse, prob. of LG orig.: cf. LG hissen

THESAURUS

hoist

a leg up, boost, buoy up, cast up, crab, crane, davit, derrick, elevate, elevator, erect, erector, escalate, forklift, gantry crane, heave, heft, heighten, heist, hike, hoick, hold up, hydraulic tailgate, jack, jackscrew, jerk up, knock up, lever, levitate, lift, lift up, lifter, lob, loft, perk up, pick up, raise, raise up, rear, rear up, rise, set up, sky, stick up, tackle, take up, throw up, up, upbuoy, upcast, upheave, uphoist, uphold, uplift, upraise, uprear, upthrow, winch, windlass

ROGET THESAURUS

hoist

Elevation

VB heighten, elevate, raise, lift, erect, set up, stick up, perch up, perk up, tilt up, rear, hoist, heave, uplift, upraise, uprear, upbear, upcast, uphoist, upheave, buoy, weigh mount, give a lift, exalt, sublimate, place on a pedestal, set on a pedestal, escalate 102, take up, drag up, fish up, dredge, stand up, rise up, get up, jump up, spring to one's feet, hold oneself, hold one's head up, drawn oneself up to his full height.