Word Study
poleaxe
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun poleaxe has 2 senses
- poleaxe(n = noun.artifact) poleax - an ax used to slaughter cattle; has a hammer opposite the blade; Array is a kind of ax, axe
- poleaxe(n = noun.artifact) poleax - a battle ax used in the Middle Ages; a long handled ax and a pick; Array is a kind of battle-ax, battle-axe
Derived form verb poleaxe1
Derived form verb poleaxe1
Verb poleaxe has 1 sense
- poleaxe(v = verb.contact) poleax - fell with or as if with a poleax; Array is one way to cut down, drop, fell, strike down
Derived forms noun poleaxe2, noun poleaxe1
Sample sentence:
They poleaxe the trees
CIDE DICTIONARY
poleaxe, n. [OE. pollax; cf. OD. pollexe. See Poll head, and Ax.].
Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
poleaxe, n. & v.
--n.
1 a battleaxe.
2 a butcher's axe.
--v.tr. hit or kill with or as if with a poleaxe .
--n.
1 a battleaxe.
2 a butcher's axe.
--v.tr. hit or kill with or as if with a poleaxe .
Etymology
ME pol(l)ax, -ex f. MDu. pol(l)aex, MLG pol(l)exe (as POLL(1), AXE)
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