poleax

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

pole=ax

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WORDNET DICTIONARY

Noun poleax has 2 senses

poleax(n = noun.artifact) poleaxe - an ax used to slaughter cattle; has a hammer opposite the blade;

is a kind of ax, axe

Derived form verb poleax₁

poleax(n = noun.artifact) poleaxe - a battle ax used in the Middle Ages; a long handled ax and a pick;

is a kind of battle-ax, battle-axe

Derived form verb poleax₁

Verb poleax has 1 sense

poleax(v = verb.contact) poleaxe - fell with or as if with a poleax;

is one way to cut down, drop, fell, strike down

Derived forms noun poleax₂, noun poleax₁

Sample sentence:
They poleax the trees

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CIDE DICTIONARY

poleax, n. [OE. pollax; cf. OD. pollexe. See Poll head, and Ax.].

Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel. [1913 Webster]