cudgel
noun
a short, thick stick used as a weapon; club.
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
All the while I have been cudgelling my brains trying to remember something Father told me.
From The Unwilling Vestal by Edward Lucas White