battle-ax

[ bat-l-aks ]

/ ˈbæt lˌæks /

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noun

a broadax formerly used as a weapon of war.

Slang. a domineering, aggressive, sharp-tempered person, especially a woman.

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Origin of battle-ax

1350–1400; Middle English batelax

The U.S. military just unveiled a new effort to get Iraqis ready to battle ISIS.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
First, as opposition to gay marriage collapses, American anti-LGBT activists will slow their battle against it.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage|Tim Mak|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is the steady accretion of detail that may yet be the most damaging factor in the battle for British hearts and minds.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The audio message featured the words, “the real battle in Lebanon is yet to begin.”
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Daily Beast spoke to a jubilant League on Tuesday about the behind-the-scenes battle to get The Interview to movie theaters.
The Inside Story of How Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Finally Made It to Theaters|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Yankee, whose face had been mauled in a pot-house brawl, assured General Jackson that he had received his scars in battle.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
After the battle of the Pyramids he fell sick, and before the Syrian expedition, applied to return to France.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
He was a distinguished warrior under Francis I, mortally wounded at the battle of Marignan.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
It was under his auspices that the battle of Lepanto was fought, in which the Turks were so signally defeated.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Again, she was present at the battle of Silan, where her heroic example of courage infused new life into her brother rebels.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman