poleax

or pole·axe

[ pohl-aks ]

noun

, plural pole·ax·es [pohl, -ak-siz].

1. a medieval shafted weapon with blade combining ax, hammer, and apical spike, used for fighting on foot.
2. an ax, usually with a hammer opposite the cutting edge, used in stunning and slaughtering animals.
3. an ax with both a blade and a hook, formerly used in naval warfare to assist sailors in boarding vessels.

verb (used with object)

, pole·axed, pole·ax·ing.

1. to strike down or kill with or as if with a poleax.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poleax¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pollax “battle-ax,” literally, “head-ax” ( poll ¹, ax ); akin to Middle Low German polexe

Example Sentences

He saw the ancient weapons on the wall—there was a great poleax.

From Project Gutenberg

He considered a grate-bar from a heating furnace, and then he found the poleax, lying among a pile of wormeaten boards.

From Project Gutenberg