impale

The definition of impale is to pierce with a pointed object.

(verb)

When an animal's head is stuck onto a stake, this is an example of impale.

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See impale in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb impaled, impaling

  1. Rare to surround with or as with a palisade
    1. to pierce through with, or fix on, something pointed; transfix
    2. to punish or torture by fixing on a stake
  2. to make helpless, as if fixed on a stake: impaled by her glance
  3. Heraldry to join (two coats of arms) side by side on one shield

Origin: Fr empaler < ML impalare < L in-, on + palus, a stake, pole

Related Forms:

See impale in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb im·paled also em·paled, im·pal·ing also em·pal·ing, im·pales also em·pales
  1. a. To pierce with a sharp stake or point.
    b. To torture or kill by impaling.
  2. To render helpless as if by impaling.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin impālāre

Origin: : Latin in-, in; see in-2

Origin: + Latin pālus, stake; see pag- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • im·paleˈment noun
  • im·palˈer noun

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