impale

[ im-peyl ]
/ ɪmˈpeɪl /

verb (used with object), im·paled, im·pal·ing.

to fasten, stick, or fix upon a sharpened stake or the like.
to pierce with a sharpened stake thrust up through the body, as for torture or punishment.
to fix upon, or pierce through with, anything pointed.
to make helpless as if pierced through.
Archaic. to enclose with or as if with pales or stakes; fence in; hem in.
Heraldry.
  1. to marshal (two coats of arms, as the family arms of a husband and wife) on an escutcheon party per pale.
  2. (of a coat of arms) to be combined with (another coat of arms) in this way.
Also empale (for defs 1–5).

Origin of impale

1545–55; < Medieval Latin impālāre, equivalent to Latin im- im-1 + pāl(us) pale2 + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive ending

OTHER WORDS FROM impale

im·pal·er, noun im·pale·ment, noun

Example sentences from the Web for impale

British Dictionary definitions for impale

impale

empale

/ (ɪmˈpeɪl) /

verb (tr)

(often foll by on, upon, or with) to pierce with a sharp instrument they impaled his severed head on a spear
archaic to enclose with pales or fencing; fence in
heraldry to charge (a shield) with two coats of arms placed side by side

Derived forms of impale

impalement or empalement, noun impaler or empaler, noun

Word Origin for impale

C16: from Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin im- (in) + pālus pale ²