poleax
or pole·axe
[ pohl-aks ]
/ ˈpoʊlˌæks /
Save This Word!
noun, plural pole·ax·es [pohl-ak-siz]. /ˈpoʊlˌæk sɪz/.
a medieval shafted weapon with blade combining ax, hammer, and apical spike, used for fighting on foot.
an ax, usually with a hammer opposite the cutting edge, used in stunning and slaughtering animals.
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.
to strike down or kill with or as if with a poleax.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for poleax
As if poleaxed, the green man fell; and both the adventurers recovered their feet.
The Heads of Apex|Francis FlaggI should simply have been poleaxed and dropped overboard, while the yacht sailed away.
A Coin of Edward VII|Fergus HumeAnd I suppose if we strangled the children and poleaxed the husbands it would leave women free for higher culture.
All Things Considered|G. K. ChestertonThe sentry fell to the ground like a poleaxed steer and lay still.
The Revolt on Venus|Carey Rockwell