Preposition: on

• behalf: In 1814 Wilberforce found time to turn from his interest in distressed negroes to take up cudgels on behalf of Lascar seamen in London.

• issue: I intend to take up the cudgels on this issue in Parliament.

Preposition: against

• company: Thanks to the internet, there is now a great deal of help for anyone wishing to take up cudgels against a company.

Adjective modifier

• stout: I had with me a short stout cudgel and a long knife.

• thick: The coward placed a very thick cudgel beside him for protection.

• oaken: As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs.

• great: Perhaps it's another ruddy great cudgel to beat Neo Labor with.

Converse of object

• take: In gratitude we ought to take the cudgels and wave his guitar like a flag after some private conquest, screaming at the sky.

• smash: He smashed the cudgel into the Toller's head once, twice, three times.

• use: The attack was carried out by three masked males using cudgels studded with nails.

Noun used with modifier

• hickory: Jolen swings at Nizevyn with hickory cudgel to little or no effect.

• oak: Like my previous oak cudgel, it's impossible to place an age on this stick.