Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HOIST, v.t. [originally hoise; but corrupted, perhaps beyond remedy. G. hissen; D. hyssen; Sw. hissa; Dan. hisser; Fr. isser; Arm. içza; Sp. izar; Port. içar. This appears by the German to be radically the same word at heat, – which see.]

1. To raise; to lift. We'll quickly hoist duke Humphrey from his seat. Shak. In popular language, it is a word of general application. But the word has two appropriate uses, one by seamen and the other by milkmaids, viz.
2. To raise, to lift or bear upward by means of tackle; and to draw up or raise, as a sail along the masts or stays, or as a flag, though by a single block only. Hoist the main-sail. Hoist the flag. Mar. Dict.
3. To lift and move the leg backward; a word of command used by milkmaids to cows, when they wish them to hit and set back the right leg.