Pile, n. [L. pilum javelin. See Pile a stake.] The head of an arrow or
spear. [Obs.] Chapman.
Pile, n. [AS. pl arrow, stake, L. pilum javelin; but cf. also L. pila
pillar.] 1. A large stake, or piece of timber, pointed and driven into
the earth, as at the bottom of a river, or in a harbor where the ground
is soft, for the support of a building, a pier, or other
superstructure, or to form a cofferdam, etc.
Tubular iron piles are now much used.
2. [Cf. F. pile.] (Her.) One of the ordinaries or subordinaries having
the form of a wedge, usually placed palewise, with the broadest end
uppermost.
Pile bridge, a bridge of which the roadway is supported on piles. --
Pile cap, a beam resting upon and connecting the heads of piles. --
Pile driver, or Pile engine, an apparatus for driving down piles,
consisting usually of a high frame, with suitable appliances for
raising to a height (by animal or steam power, the explosion of
gunpowder, etc.) a heavy mass of iron, which falls upon the pile. --
Pile dwelling. See Lake dwelling, under Lake. -- Pile plank (Hydraul.
Eng.), a thick plank used as a pile in sheet piling. See Sheet piling,
under Piling. -- Pneumatic pile. See under Pneumatic. -- Screw pile,
one with a screw at the lower end, and sunk by rotation aided by
pressure.
Pile, v. t. To drive piles into; to fill with piles; to strengthen with
piles.
To sheet-pile, to make sheet piling in or around. See Sheet piling,
under 2nd Piling.
Pile, n. [F. pile, L. pila a pillar, a pier or mole of stone. Cf.
Pillar.] 1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of
stones; a pile of wood.