English Explanatory Dictionary

bludgeon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A short, heavy club, often of wood, which is thicker or loaded at one end.
verb
  1. To strike or hit with something hard, usually on the head; to club.
  2. To coerce someone, as if with a bludgeon.

Pronunciation

/ˈblʌd͡ʒ.ən/ en-us-bludgeon.ogg en-au-bludgeon.ogg /ˈblʊd͡ʒ.ən/

Word forms

bludgeon bludgeons bludgeoning bludgeoned

Etymology

First attested in 1730. Origin uncertain, perhaps of Cornish origin (recorded as blogon c. 1450) or from Middle French bougeon, a diminutive of bouge (“club, stick”).

Synonyms

cudgel harass pummel

Related words

truncheon clobber beat

Derived words

bludgeonry bludgeoner unbludgeoned

Translations

Chinese Mandarin: 逼迫 Dutch: afdwingen Finnish: jyrätä French: soutirer German: aufzwingen Polish: zmuszać Polish: zmusić Polish: przymuszać Polish: przymusić
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