Home › Words › P › poleheadpoleheadpolehead · noun — the portion of a mast above the crossbar that holds the sail, which sometimes support a flag or topsail.Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, polehead ranks #16,789 of 42,820 for Qualifying.EtymologyFrom pole + head.nounThe portion of a mast above the crossbar that holds the sail, which sometimes support a flag or topsail.e.g.“The sketch is from a photograph, and shows one of these old type of vessels before a light wind, with a small square topsail set upon the polehead of her single lofty spar.” — 1890, Robert Charles Leslie, Old Sea Wings, Ways, and Words, in the Days of Oak and Hemp:The top of a flagpole.e.g.“They are not seen again until the camping-ground for the night is reached, when the four tents will be found pitched ready for us, with English and American flags flying at their poleheads.” — 1880, James Hingston, The Australian Abroad:The top of any pole.The front portion of the pole that attaches a coach or wagon to the team of horses that pulls it.A housing for wires that is attached to the top of a telephone pole or similar pole carrying power lines.e.g.“I think that the construction of a polehead to take care of the overhead ground wire is open to criticism.” — 1908, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Transactions - Volume 26, Part 1, page 488:An emblem, usually made of metal, that tops a pole which is carried by the steward or secretary of a rural British club or friendly society.e.g.“Unfortunately the Trent polehead cannot be traced, but the rules of the “Trent and Compton Friendly Society', founded in 1819, are in the County Record Office in Taunton.” — 1969, Annette Sandison, Trent in Dorset, page 105:A tadpole.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).