poll

I. noun Etymology: Middle English pol, polle, from Middle Low German Date: 14th century 1. head 2. a. the top or back of the head b. nape 3. the broad or flat end of a striking tool (as a hammer) 4. a. (1) the casting or recording of the votes of a body of persons (2) a counting of votes cast b. the place where votes are cast or recorded — usually used in plural <

at the polls

> c. the period of time during which votes may be cast at an election d. the total number of votes recorded <

a heavy poll

> 5. a. a questioning or canvassing of persons selected at random or by quota to obtain information or opinions to be analyzed b. a record of the information so obtained II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to cut off or cut short the hair or wool of ; crop, shear b. to cut off or cut short (as wool) 2. a. to cut off or back the top of (as a tree); specifically pollard b. to cut off or cut short the horns of (cattle) 3. a. to receive and record the votes of b. to request each member of to declare a vote individually <

poll the assembly

> 4. to receive (as votes) in an election 5. to question or canvass in a poll 6. to test (as several computer terminals sharing a single line) in sequence for messages to be transmitted intransitive verb to cast one's vote at a poll • pollee noun • poller noun