poles

Noun

 * The distance between the poles was three feet.
 * The distance between the poles was three feet.

Etymology
From a contraction of the preposition + feminine plural article.

Contraction

 * 1) for the, by the

Etymology
, from poliss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of, from , from , from the notion of fulling cloth.

Noun

 * 1) polish: a substance used to polish.