spile

spile  (spl)

n.

1. A post used as a foundation; a pile.

2. A wooden plug; a bung.

3. A spigot used in taking sap from a tree.

tr.v. spiled, spil·ing, spiles

1. To support with a spile.

2. To plug or tap with a spile.

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[Dutch spijl, wooden pin, from Middle Dutch sple.]

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spile [spaɪl]

n

1. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a heavy timber stake or pile

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) US and Canadian a spout for tapping sap from the sugar maple tree

3. (Engineering / Tools) a plug or spigot

vb (tr)

1. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) to provide or support with a spile

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) US to tap (a tree) with a spile

3. Northern English dialect a splinter

[probably from Middle Dutch spile peg; related to Icelandic spila skewer, Latin spīna thorn]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	spile - a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure piling, stilt, pile pillar, column - (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure sheath pile, sheet pile, sheet piling - a pile in a row of piles driven side by side to retain earth or prevent seepage
	2.	spile - a plug used to close a hole in a barrel or flask bung barrel, cask - a cylindrical container that holds liquids plug, stopple, stopper - blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly