poleaxed

Variant of poleax

poleax definition

pole·ax or poleaxe pole′·axe′ (pōl′aks′)

noun pl. poleaxes -·ax′es

  1. a long-handled battle-ax
  2. any ax with a spike, hook, or hammer opposite the blade

Etymology: altered (infl. by pole) < ME pollax < pol, poll + ax, ax

transitive verb poleaxed -·axed′, poleaxing -·ax′·ing

to attack or fell with or as with a poleax

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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Pole-axe was a medieval weapon. However the expression of being pole-axed is thought to refer to the execution of Margaret Pole who was beheaded on the orders of King Henry V111. At 67 and innocent of treason, she was dragged to the block where she refused to lay her head and was therefore held down. The executioner missed with his blow and cut her across the shoulder. Margaret ran off screaming and was brought back and receiving several 'loose' blows from the executioner. It then took a further estimated 9 blows to chop off her head. After this people were threatened with being 'Pole-axed'.

Posted by John Henry 85 days ago.

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