Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun an ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle
  • noun a long-handled battle-ax, being a combination of ax, hammer and pike
  • verb transitive to fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb fell with or as if with a poleax
  • noun an ax used to slaughter cattle; has a hammer opposite the blade
  • noun a battle ax used in the Middle Ages; a long handled ax and a pick

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Wretched brutes there at the cattlemarket waiting for the poleaxe to split their skulls open.

    November « 2008 « Sentence first 2008

  • Wretched brutes there at the cattlemarket waiting for the poleaxe to split their skulls open.

    Meh 2008

  • All that safe, old fashioned boring will be a poleaxe beteen the eyes for them.

    What Happens When Socialism Doesn't Come? Rogers 2008

  • Canidius listened to the exchange feeling as if he had been hit by a poleaxe.

    Antony and Cleopatra Colleen McCullough 2007

  • Canidius listened to the exchange feeling as if he had been hit by a poleaxe.

    Antony and Cleopatra Colleen McCullough 2007

  • Wretched brutes there at the cattlemarket waiting for the poleaxe to split their skulls open.

    Ulysses 2003

  • Shooting me glares which would poleaxe a lesser man.

    Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine 2003

  • The blade of a poleaxe crashed down, splintering the table, and slicing off the heels of Lynch's boots.

    Dragons Of Summer Flame Weis, Margaret 1995

  • He would throw the gun at him and poleaxe him with it before firing a shot.

    The Drawing of the Three King, Stephen, 1947- 1987

  • His poleaxe was stuck into the ground at the edge of the circle made by his men.

    Sharpe's Honour Cornwell, Bernard 1985

Comments

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  • His clenched fist offered to his forehead on your leaving him in just displeasure; I wish it had been a poleaxe, and in the hand of his worst enemy.

    Anna Howe to Clarissa Harlowe, Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

    December 11, 2007