impalement

Variant of impale

impale definition

im·pale (im pāl′)

transitive verb impaled -·paled′, impaling -·pal′·ing

  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
  3. to make helpless, as if fixed on a stake impaled by her glance
  4. Heraldry to join (two coats of arms) side by side on one shield

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

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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