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setting-pole†
Hist.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n.
a long pole, often tipped with iron or steel, used for pushing or guiding a canoe or other boat in narrow or shallow streams.
Quotations
1768-82
Where the water is shallow, the canoes must be forced upward with long setting poles. . . .
1798
Each canoe was provided with a mast and lug-sail, and also each man had a ten-foot setting pole, of good ash, shod with an iron ferrule at each end. . . .
1853
. . . for, although the spring floods were considerably abated, the water ran with great rapidity, and in some places was up to our middles; but with the help of a strong setting-pole, we got over with safety.
1933
The setting poles were thrown away at the height of land since they were not necessary on the journey downstream.