Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Poleaxe

{

Pole′axˊ

,

Pole′axeˊ

}
,
Noun.
[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.

Definition 2024


poleaxe

poleaxe

See also: pole-axe

English

Alternative forms

Noun

poleaxe (plural poleaxes)

  1. an ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle
  2. a long-handled battle-ax, being a combination of ax, hammer and pike

Hypernyms

Translations

See also

Verb

poleaxe (third-person singular simple present poleaxes, present participle poleaxing, simple past and past participle poleaxed)

  1. (transitive) to fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe
  2. to shock or surprise