cudgel
noun
Definitions of cudgel noun
- Countable
A short, thick stick, typically used as a weapon for hitting.
He picked up a cudgel from the ground, ready to use it for self-defense.
The farmer used a cudgel to drive away the animals that trespassed into his field.
Ancient soldiers often used cudgels as melee weapons.
verb
Definitions of cudgel verb
- Transitive
To strike or beat someone with a cudgel.
The mob cudgelled the poor protestors with their sticks.
He was cudgelled by the guards for attempting to steal.
In the dark alley, the thug cudgelled the innocent victim.
Idioms
- cudgel your brains
To think very hard or struggle to remember something that one has forgotten.
• I had to cudgel my brains to remember where I had left my keys.
- take up the cudgels for/against someone/something
To strongly argue in favor of or against someone or something.
• In the meeting, he took up the cudgels for the company's new policy.