How Do You Spell PITCHPOLE?

Pronunciation: [pˈɪt͡ʃpə͡ʊl] (IPA)

The word "pitchpole" is spelled /ˈpɪtʃpəʊl/. The first part "pitch" is pronounced as /pɪtʃ/ which rhymes with "itch". It refers to the sudden, forward throwing of a boat or ship. The second part "pole" is pronounced as /pəʊl/ which rhymes with "role". It refers to the tall, mast-like structures that hold up sails. Together, "pitchpole" refers to a dangerous incident in which a boat or ship is thrown forward and upended. Its spelling comes from the English language's tendency to combine two related words to create a new one.

PITCHPOLE Meaning and Definition

  1. Pitchpole is a nautical term that refers to a type of capsize in which a boat or vessel is thrown end over end, usually caused by a combination of unfavorable sailing conditions and improper handling. It is a dangerous and violent event that typically occurs in rough seas, strong winds, or during stormy weather. The word "pitchpole" derives from the action of a boat being propelled forward by a wave, causing the bow (front) or stern (back) to dive into the water and then suddenly flip the entire vessel upside down.

    During a pitchpole, the boat's momentum is abruptly halted and reversed as it rotates vertically, often rolling completely upside down, with the bow or stern eventually rising to the surface again. This can cause severe damage to the vessel and poses a significant risk to the crew onboard. The forceful nature of a pitchpole can endanger the lives of those on board due to the potential for injuries from impact or entrapment, as well as the risk of drowning if the crew cannot escape the overturned boat.

    Pitchpole incidents are particularly prevalent among smaller sailboats or racing vessels that have a high center of gravity or a lack of stability. To minimize the likelihood of a pitchpole, sailors need to be adept at reading and reacting to changing weather and sea conditions, employing proper sail trim, and ensuring the boat remains balanced.

Common Misspellings for PITCHPOLE

  • batchpole

Etymology of PITCHPOLE

The word "pitchpole" has nautical origins. It comes from the combination of two words: "pitch" and "pole".

1. "Pitch": This word originated from Middle English "pichen" and Old English "pician", which means "to thrust in, to thrust forward". Over time, it took on various meanings related to thrusting, tossing, or plunging, particularly in a violent or sudden way. In the context of nautical terminology, "pitch" refers to the sudden upward or downward motion of a ship caused by a wave or other external force.

2. "Pole": The word "pole" refers to a long, slender, cylindrical object, typically made of wood or metal. In the context of sailing, a "pole" is often used with a sail to provide additional support or control, such as a spinnaker pole used to hold out a spinnaker sail.

Conjugate verb Pitchpole

CONDITIONAL

I would pitchpole
you would pitchpole
he/she/it would pitchpole
we would pitchpole
they would pitchpole

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be pitchpoling
you would be pitchpoling
he/she/it would be pitchpoling
we would be pitchpoling
they would be pitchpoling

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have pitchpole
you would have pitchpole
he/she/it would have pitchpole
we would have pitchpole
they would have pitchpole

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been pitchpoling
you would have been pitchpoling
he/she/it would have been pitchpoling
we would have been pitchpoling
they would have been pitchpoling

FUTURE

I will pitchpole
you will pitchpole
he/she/it will pitchpole
we will pitchpole
they will pitchpole

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be pitchpoling
you will be pitchpoling
he/she/it will be pitchpoling
we will be pitchpoling
they will be pitchpoling

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have pitchpoled
you will have pitchpoled
he/she/it will have pitchpoled
we will have pitchpoled
they will have pitchpoled

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been pitchpoling
you will have been pitchpoling
he/she/it will have been pitchpoling
we will have been pitchpoling
they will have been pitchpoling

IMPERATIVE

you pitchpole
we let´s pitchpole

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to pitchpole

PAST

I pitchpoled
you pitchpoled
he/she/it pitchpoled
we pitchpoled
they pitchpoled

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was pitchpoling
you were pitchpoling
he/she/it was pitchpoling
we were pitchpoling
they were pitchpoling

PAST PARTICIPLE

pitchpoled

PAST PERFECT

I had pitchpoled
you had pitchpoled
he/she/it had pitchpoled
we had pitchpoled
they had pitchpoled

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been pitchpoling
you had been pitchpoling
he/she/it had been pitchpoling
we had been pitchpoling
they had been pitchpoling

PRESENT

I pitchpole
you pitchpole
he/she/it pitchpoles
we pitchpole
they pitchpole

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am pitchpoling
you are pitchpoling
he/she/it is pitchpoling
we are pitchpoling
they are pitchpoling

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

pitchpoling

PRESENT PERFECT

I have pitchpoled
you have pitchpoled
he/she/it has pitchpoled
we have pitchpoled
they have pitchpoled

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been pitchpoling
you have been pitchpoling
he/she/it has been pitchpoling
we have been pitchpoling
they have been pitchpoling