v. & n.
v.tr. 1 beat and bruise. 2 handle roughly or carelessly. 3 damage by criticism.
n. 1 Rugby Football a loose scrum with the ball off the ground. 2 a brawl. 3 a special heavy hammer, commonly of wood, esp. for driving piles. mauler n.
[ ME f. OF mail f. L malleus hammer ]