"inhabitant or native of Poland," 1656, from Ger. Pole, sing. of Polen, from Pol. Poljane, lit. "field-dwellers," from pole "field," from PIE base *pele- "flat, plain" (see plane (1)).
Main Entry: pole Pronunciation: 'pOl Function: noun 1 a: either of the two terminals of an electric cell, battery, generator, or motor b: one of two or more regions in a magnetized body at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated 2: either of two morphologically or physiologically differentiatedareas at opposite ends of an axis in an organism, organ, or cell —see ANIMAL POLE, VEGETAL POLE