Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Hoist \Hoist\, p. p.
   Hoisted. [Obs.]

         'T is the sport to have the enginer Hoist with his own
         petar.                                   --Shak.

Hoist \Hoist\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hoisted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Hoisting}.] [OE. hoise, hyse, OD. hyssen, D. hijshen; akin
   to LG. hissen, Dan. hisse, Sw. hissa.]
   To raise; to lift; to elevate; esp., to raise or lift to a
   desired elevation, by means of tackle, as a sail, a flag, a
   heavy package or weight.

         They land my goods, and hoist my flying sails. --Pope.

         Hoisting him into his father's throne.   --South.

   {Hoisting engine}, a steam engine for operating a hoist.

Hoist \Hoist\, n.
   1. That by which anything is hoisted; the apparatus for
      lifting goods.

   2. The act of hoisting; a lift. [Collog.]

   3. (Naut.)
      (a) The perpendicular height of a flag, as opposed to the
          fly, or horizontal length when flying from a staff.
      (b) The height of a fore-and-aft sail next the mast or
          stay. --Totten.

   {Hoist bridge}, a drawbridge that is lifted instead of being
      swung or drawn aside.

Source : WordNet®

hoist
     n : lifting device for raising heavy or cumbersome objects
     v 1: raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help; "hoist
          the bicycle onto the roof of the car" [syn: {lift}, {wind}]
     2: move from one place to another by lifting; "They hoisted the
        patient onto the operating table"
     3: raise; "hoist the flags"; "hoist a sail" [syn: {run up}]