estocada

[ es-tuh-kah-duh; Spanish es-taw-kah-thah ]

noun

1. the thrust of the sword by the matador into the bull in the final stage of a bullfight, designed to kill the bull.

Word History and Origins

Origin of estocada¹

1570–80; < Spanish < Middle French estoqu ( ier ) to give sword thrusts ( estoc ) + Spanish -ada -ade ¹

Example Sentences

They feel the wildness of anger, and they charge and charge again until the estocada, the death stab.

From Project Gutenberg