Careful Words

poll (n.)

poll (v.)

His beard was as white as snow,

All flaxen was his poll.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act iv. Sc. 5.

Here lies Nolly Goldsmith, for shortness called Noll,

Who wrote like an angel, and talk'd like poor Poll.

David Garrick (1716-1779): Impromptu Epitaph on Goldsmith.