pole-plate

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

• n. In building, a small wall-plate resting on the ends of the tie-beams of a roof, and supporting the lower ends of the common rafters.
• n. One of the masses or spheres of achromatic substance at the poles of the mitotic spindle in dividing protozoa. The pole-plates probably represent the attraction-spheres of other animals. Also called end-plates.