poleax

Hafted weapon with blade

A poleax is a medieval weapon with an axe blade, hammer, or spike mounted on a long pole—used by infantry against armored opponents.

As a verb, to poleax is to strike down or stun, often with a heavy blow: The boxer was poleaxed in the third round.

Figuratively, to be poleaxed is to be shocked into immobility: She was poleaxed by the news.

Also spelled poleaxe.

stun

knockout

Incapacitating final blow

  • dazeBewildered mental state
  • staggerWalk unsteadily, sway
  • shockViolent sudden disturbance

concussion · fell · drop · overwhelm · flabbergast · stupefy · astonish · astound · dumbfound · bewilder

weapon

glaive

Bladed polearm weapon

  • pikeLong battlefield spear
  • billhookCurved vegetation-cutting blade
  • lanceLong thrusting weapon

flail · mace · battleaxe · pollaxe · armament · arsenal · combat · melee · cleave · strike

slaughter

stun

Daze by force

slaughterhouse · butcher · meatpacking · livestock · stunning · humane · bolt · kill · knockdown · processing

anatomy

axehead

Cutting part of hatchet

  • haftTool's grip portion
  • shaftNarrow vertical passage
  • spikeSharp rise or point

hammer · blade · rondel · butt · steel · head · socket · poll · bit · edge

medieval

knight

Honored mounted soldier

footman · infantry · cavalry · vanguard · siege · battlefield · tournament · joust · man-at-arms · crusader

Opposites
weapon type/combat range

poleaxshield

Handheld defensive armor

dagger · knife · dirk · stiletto · rapier

EFFECT ON TARGET (verb sense)

poleaxrevive

Restore consciousness or vigor

resuscitate · rouse · awaken · invigorate · enliven

Phrases
Family

pole, poleaxe, poleaxed, poleaxes, polearm, poleaxing

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Rated PG