noun
- a pole or post carved and painted with totemic figures, erected by Indians of the northwest coast of North America, especially in front of their houses.
- a hierarchical system: the bureaucratic totem pole.
noun
- a pole carved or painted with totemic figures set up by certain North American Indians, esp those of the NW Pacific coast, within a village as a tribal symbol or, sometimes, in memory of a dead person
Among some Native Americans, a pole on which totems are carved. The totem pole usually stands in front of a house or shelter.