English Explanatory Dictionary

poleaxe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle.
  2. A long-handled battle axe, being a combination of ax, hammer and pike.
verb
  1. To fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe.
  2. To astonish; to shock or surprise utterly.
  3. To stymie, thwart, cripple, paralyze.

Pronunciation

/ˈpoʊlˌæks/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-poleaxe.wav

Word forms

poleaxe poleaxes poleax pole-axe pollaxe pollax polax poleaxing poleaxed

Etymology

From earlier pollax, from poll (“head”) + axe, with the spelling influenced by pole.

Related words

pole hammer twibill
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