maul
/mɔːl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.90 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
noun
A situation where the player carrying the ball, who must be on his feet, is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier's team mates bind onto the ball carrier.
noun
The fruit of the Washingtonia species.
verb
To handle someone or something in a rough way.
Example Sentences
- "The bear mauled him in a terrible way."
- "The embattled heavy cruiser is not in immediate danger of sinking, but is being badly mauled."
- "A tiger handler who had acquired some of his tigers from the zoo owner known as Joe Exotic was fatally mauled on Saturday by a tiger at his family-run zoo in southeastern Oklahoma, the authorities said."
- "The latest film by the Cohen brothers was mauled by the press, and was a box-office flop to boot."
- "28 year old big, burly, bearded grizzly looking for other bears to maul me! Facial/body hair, brains a plus!"
Etymology
From Middle English malle (“mace, maul”), from Anglo-Norman mail, from Old French mail, from Latin malleus (“hammer”). Doublet of malleus.