—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.
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
hoister n.
Etymology: 16th c.: alt. of hoise f. (15th-c.) hysse, prob. of LG orig.: cf. LG hissen
Useful english dictionary. 2012.