In vexillology, the **hoist** is the half of a flag nearest the staff or pole, and also the vertical edge of the flag attached to the halyard. The hoist is the most prestigious portion of a flag’s field: charges placed in the hoist (or in the canton, which sits in the upper hoist) are considered the most important in the design. The hoist edge usually carries a sleeve, grommets, or rope by which the flag is bent on to the halyard.
**Example**: The single white star in the canton of Liberia’s flag occupies the upper hoist, mirroring the United States flag from which Liberia’s design derives.
**See also**: [fly](/glossary/fly/), [canton](/glossary/canton/), [halyard](/glossary/halyard/), [hoist-end](/glossary/hoist-end/)