noun
dialect British, Midlands EnglishA blow, a hard knock.
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in MS Bodleian 30. Probably from polt, although first attested earlier. Perhaps compare palt. It is not certain that sense 2 shows the same word.
verb
(also poult)
dialect, rare British, Midlands English To beat, strike, thump; (English regional (south-west midlands)) specifically to knock (fruit) down from a tree.
Origin
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Walter Blith (bap. 1605, d. 1654), writer on husbandry. Apparently ultimately related to pilt, although the form is difficult to account for; perhaps developed from the past tense forms at pilt. Perhaps compare palt.
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