Other

poleax

Syllabification: (pole·ax)

Pronunciation: /ˈpōˌlaks/

(also poleaxe)

Definition of poleax

noun

another term for battle-ax (sense 1).
a short-handled ax with a spike at the back, formerly used in naval warfare for boarding, resisting boarders, and cutting ropes.
a butcher’s ax with a hammerhead at the back, used to slaughter animals.

verb

[with object]

hit, kill, or knock down with or as if with a poleax.
cause great shock to (someone):I was poleaxed by this revelation

Origin:

Middle English: related to Middle Dutch pol(l)aex, Middle Low German pol(l)exe (see poll, ax). The change in the first syllable was due to association with pole¹; the first element poll- may have referred to a special head of the ax or to the head of an enemy

poleax in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of poleax in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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