poleaxe

/ˈpoʊlæks/
noun
  1. Alternative spelling of poleax; a type of axe with a long handle, used historically as a weapon or tool.
    • A poleaxe could be used to break through armor.
    • The blacksmith forged a new poleaxe for the soldier.
    • The knight carried a heavy poleaxe into the tournament.
Synonyms
verb
  1. Alternative spelling of poleax; to strike or knock down with a poleaxe or a similar blow.
    • The hunter poleaxed the deer with a precise hit.
    • He was poleaxed by a falling branch during the storm.
    • The guard poleaxed the intruder with a single swing.
  2. To shock or overwhelm someone completely.
    • The company was poleaxed by the sudden loss of its biggest client.
    • The bad news poleaxed him, and he couldn't speak for a minute.
    • She felt poleaxed by the complexity of the new software.
Synonyms
What does "poleaxe" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean