(poiz) v. poised, pois·ing v.t.
1. To bring into or hold in balance; maintain in equilibrium.
2. To hold; support, as in readiness.
3. Rare To weigh.
—v.i.
4. To be balanced or suspended; hover.
—noun
1. The state or quality of being balanced; equilibrium; equipoise; also, indecision; suspense.
2. Equanimity; repose; dignity, as in bearing or carriage.
3. A balance weight or counterpoise.
4. Any position that indicates suspended motion. [<OF il poise, peise, 3rd person sing. of peser <L pensare, intens. of pendere weigh]
—pois′er noun

(poiz) noun plural poise
The unit of viscosity in the cgs system, equal to 1 dyne-second per square centimeter. [after Jean Marie Poiseuille, 1797?–1869, French physiologist]