POLEAXE


Meaning of POLEAXE in English

( US also poleax )

■ noun a battleaxe.

↘a short-handled axe with a spike at the back, formerly used in naval warfare.

↘a butcher's axe with a hammer head at the back, used to slaughter animals.

■ verb

1》 hit, kill, or knock down with or as if with a ~.

2》 shock greatly.

Origin

ME: related to MDu. pol(l)aex , Mid. Low Ger. pol(l)exe (see poll , axe ).

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.