poleax

[ pohl-aks ]
/ ˈpoʊlˌæks /

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.

Origin of poleax

1300–50; Middle English pollax battle-ax, literally, head-ax (see poll1, ax); akin to Middle Low German polexe

Words nearby poleax

pole position, pole star, pole vault, pole-jump, pole-vault, poleax, poleaxe, polecat, poleis, polemarch, polemic

Definition for poleaxed (2 of 2)

poleaxe
[ pohl-aks ]
/ ˈpoʊlˌæks /

noun, plural pole·ax·es [pohl-ak-siz] /ˈpoʊlˌæk sɪz/, verb (used with object), pole·axed, pole·ax·ing.

poleax.

Example sentences from the Web for poleaxed

  • The sentry fell to the ground like a poleaxed steer and lay still.

    The Revolt on Venus |Carey Rockwell

  • I should simply have been poleaxed and dropped overboard, while the yacht sailed away.

    A Coin of Edward VII |Fergus Hume

  • As if poleaxed, the green man fell; and both the adventurers recovered their feet.

    The Heads of Apex |Francis Flagg

  • And I suppose if we strangled the children and poleaxed the husbands it would leave women free for higher culture.

    All Things Considered |G. K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for poleaxed

poleaxe

US poleax

/ (ˈpəʊlˌæks) /

noun

another term for battle-axe (def. 1)
a former naval weapon with an axe blade on one side of the handle and a spike on the other
an axe used by butchers to slaughter animals

verb

(tr) to hit or fell with or as if with a poleaxe

Word Origin for poleaxe

C14 pollax battle-axe, from poll + axe