mauler

Variant of maul

maul definition

maul (môl)

noun

a very heavy hammer or mallet, often of wood, for driving stakes, wedges, etc.

Etymology: Early ModE phonetic sp. of ME malle < OFr maile < L malleus, a hammer: see malleable

transitive verb

  1. to injure by beating or tearing; bruise or lacerate
  2. to handle roughly or clumsily; manhandle; paw

Etymology: ME mallen < OFr mailler < the n.

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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