1. [n]  the counting of votes (as in an election)
2. [n]  a tame parrot
3. [n]  the part of the head between the ears
4. [n]  the top of the head
5. [n]  an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
6. [v]  convert into a pollard, as of trees
7. [v]  get the opinions of people, for example
8. [v]  get the votes of
9. [v]  vote in an election at a polling station

1. \Poll\, n. [From Polly, The proper name.]
   A parrot; -- familiarly so called.
   

2. \Poll\, n. [Gr. ? the many, the rabble.]
   One who does not try for honors, but is content to take a
   degree merely; a passman. [Cambridge Univ., Eng.]
   

3. \Poll\, n. [Akin to LG. polle the head, the crest of a
   bird, the top of a tree, OD. pol, polle, Dan. puld the crown
   of a hat.]
   1. The head; the back part of the head. ``All flaxen was his
      poll.'' --Shak.
   2. A number or aggregate of heads; a list or register of
      heads or individuals.
            We are the greater poll, and in true fear They gave
            us our demands.                       --Shak.
            The muster file, rotten and sound, upon my life,
            amounts not to fifteen thousand poll. --Shak.
   3. Specifically, the register of the names of electors who
      may vote in an election.
   4. The casting or recording of the votes of registered
      electors; as, the close of the poll.
            All soldiers quartered in place are to remove . . .
            and not to return till one day after the poll is
            ended.                                --Blackstone.
   5. pl. The place where the votes are cast or recorded; as, to
      go to the polls.
   6. The broad end of a hammer; the but of an ax.
   7. (Zo["o]l.) The European chub. See {Pollard}, 3
      (a) .
   {Poll book}, a register of persons entitled to vote at an
      election.
   {Poll evil} (Far.), an inflammatory swelling or abscess on a
      horse's head, confined beneath the great ligament of the
      neck.
   {Poll pick} (Mining), a pole having a heavy spike on the end,
      forming a kind of crowbar.
   {Poll tax}, a tax levied by the head, or poll; a capitation
      tax.
   

4. \Poll\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Polled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Polling}.]
   1. To remove the poll or head of; hence, to remove the top or
      end of; to clip; to lop; to shear; as, to poll the head;
      to poll a tree.
            When he [Absalom] pollled his head.   --2 Sam. xiv.
                                                  26.
            His death did so grieve them that they polled
            themselves; they clipped off their horse and mule's
            hairs.                                --Sir T.
                                                  North.
   2. To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow
      or crop; -- sometimes with off; as, to poll the hair; to
      poll wool; to poll grass.
            Who, as he polled off his dart's head, so sure he
            had decreed That all the counsels of their war he
            would poll off like it.               --Chapman.
   3. To extort from; to plunder; to strip. [Obs.]
            Which polls and pills the poor in piteous wise.
                                                  --Spenser.
   4. To impose a tax upon. [Obs.]
   5. To pay as one's personal tax.
            The man that polled but twelve pence for his head.
                                                  --Dryden.
   6. To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to
      enroll, esp. for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by
      one.
            Polling the reformed churches whether they equalize
            in number those of his three kingdoms. --Milton.
   7. To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call
      forth, as votes or voters; as, he polled a hundred votes
      more than his opponent.
            And poll for points of faith his trusty vote.
                                                  --Tickell.
   8. (Law) To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight
      line without indentation; as, a polled deed. See {Dee?
      poll}. --Burrill.
   {To poll a jury}, to call upon each member of the jury to
      answer individually as to his concurrence in a verdict
      which has been rendered.
   

5. \Poll\, v. i.
   To vote at an election. --Beaconsfield.
   

To check the status of an input line, sensor, or memory location to see if a particular external event has been registered.

Contrast interrupt.

[Jargon File]