cudgel
noun
a short, thick stick used as a weapon; club.
was cudgelling
-
past progressiveof cudgel.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But as a matter of fact his eyes were resting upon Lieutenant Siddons, and he was cudgelling his brain in an effort to 26remember where he had seen him before.
From Aces Up by Covington Clarke
Just as I was cudgelling my brains for some scheme of introduction to Don Ramon de Vargas, here comes one ready fashioned to my hand.”
From The War Trail The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Mayne Reid
Not quite: he was cudgelling his brains in search of some horribly unscientific argument, that might prevail; for he felt science would fall dead upon so fair an antagonist.
From A Simpleton by Charles Reade
While she was cudgelling her brains as to how she could arrest this powerful offensive, Lucia went sublimely on.
From Queen Lucia by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson
I had finished The Three Clerks just before I left England, and when in Florence was cudgelling my brain for a new plot.
From Autobiography of Anthony Trollope by Anthony Trollope
