poleaxe
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pole·axe
or pole·ax (pōl′ăks′)n.
1. An axe having a hammer face opposite the blade, used to slaughter cattle.
2. A medieval battle-axe consisting of a long shaft ending in an axe or a combination of an axe, hammer, and pick.
tr.v. pole·axed, pole·ax·ing, pole·ax·es
To strike or fell with or as if with a poleaxe: "When a gang of doves circled above the flowing water and swooped in to feed, he poleaxed the leader with a clean head shot" (William Hoffman).
[Middle English, alteration (influenced by pole, long piece of wood) of pollax : poll, head; see poll + ax, axe; see axe.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
poleaxe
(ˈpəʊlˌæks) orpoleax
n
1. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) another term for battle-axe1
2. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) a former naval weapon with an axe blade on one side of the handle and a spike on the other
3. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) an axe used by butchers to slaughter animals
vb
(Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) (tr) to hit or fell with or as if with a poleaxe
[C14 pollax battle-axe, from poll + axe]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pole•ax
(ˈpoʊlˌæks)n., pl. -ax•es (-ˌæk sɪz)
v. n.
1. a medieval shafted weapon with blade combining ax, hammer, and apical spike, used for fighting on foot.
v.t. 2. to strike down or kill with or as if with a poleax.
[1300–50; Middle English pollax literally, head-ax (see poll, ax); akin to Middle Low German polexe]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
poleaxe
Past participle: poleaxed
Gerund: poleaxing
| Imperative |
|---|
| poleaxe |
| poleaxe |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  poleaxe - an ax used to slaughter cattle; has a hammer opposite the blade |
| 2. | poleaxe - a battle ax used in the Middle Ages; a long handled ax and a pick battle-ax, battle-axe - a broadax used as a weapon | |
| Verb | 1. | poleaxe - fell with or as if with a poleax fell, strike down, cut down, drop - cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow; "strike down a tree"; "Lightning struck down the hikers" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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