Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Empale
Em-pale′
,Verb.
T.
[Pref.
em-
(L. in
) + pale
: cf. OF. empalir
.] To make pale.
[Obs.]
No bloodless malady
empales
their face. G. Fletcher.
Em-pale′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Empaled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Empaling
.] [OF.
empaler
to palisade, pierce, F. empaler
to punish by empalement; pref. em-
(L. in
) + OF. & F. pal
a pale, stake. See Pale
a stake, and cf. Impale
.] [Written also
impale
.] 1.
To fence or fortify with stakes; to surround with a line of stakes for defense; to impale.
All that dwell near enemies
empale
villages, to save themselves from surprise. Sir W. Raleigh.
2.
To inclose; to surround. See
Impale
. 3.
To put to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the body.
Webster 1828 Edition
Empale
EMPA'LE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To fence or fortify with stakes; to set a line of stakes or posts for defense.All that dwell near enemies empale villages, to save themselves from surprise.
[We now use stockade, in a like sense.]
2.
To inclose; to surround.Round about her work she did empale,
With a fair border wrought of sundry flowers.
3.
To inclose; to shut in.Impenetrable, empal'd with circling fire.
4.
To thrust a stake up the fundament, and thus put to death; to put to death by fixing on a stake; a punishment formerly practiced in Rome, and still used in Turkey.