( BrE ) ( US pole·ax ) / ˈpəʊlæks; NAmE ˈpoʊl-/ verb [ vn ]
1.
to hit sb very hard so that they fall down and cannot stand up again
2.
[ usually passive ] to surprise or shock you so much that you do not know what to say or do
SYN dumbfound
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : related to Middle Dutch pol(l)aex , Middle Low German pol(l)exe (see poll , axe ). The change in the first syllable was due to association with pole long piece of word or metal ; the first element poll- may have referred to a special head of the axe or to the head of an enemy.