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😠 A harsh woman 🪓 A war weapon
battle-ax

battle-ax

1 8.4
A large ax with a wide blade used in battle
  • noun
  • /ˈbætəlˌæks/
  • US
translation icon : hacha de guerra
  • The warrior swung the battle-ax with fierce determination during the clash of armies.
  • swinging a battle-ax
  • battle-ax and shield

Examples

  • They bang the handles of their battle axes together, jockeying for position.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Even as she did so, her blood chilled at the announcement of Wultha, who stood at the rail and raised his huge battle-axe.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The black knight is wildly swinging the battle axe.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The men who had fought with swords centuries before had held them in only one hand and a shield or battle axe in the other.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • In the confusion, Indy's shield is knocked from his hand by the powerful battle axe.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • He carries a double-bladed battle axe.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The blacksmiths of the land labored day and night, making pikes, battle axes, and armor.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Battle-axes split the crossbar that braced the warehouse entrance, and the heavy doors sagged.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • When I finally slept, I dreamed I was with armies of men fighting with swords and battle axes on a Somerset beach where great bonfires burned.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The Rabbit Warrior in the homemade armor grins at an intrepid Native and lowers his battle-axe.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

ax
vsbattle-ax
  • US
129 1.0

A tool with a heavy blade on a handle for chopping wood

is a broad bladed combat weapon rather than a woodworking tool
Lochaber ax
vsbattle-ax
  • Archaic
9.9

A long-handled battle axe used by Scottish Highlanders

is a broad bladed heavy weapon made for general use in battle
hammer axe
vsbattle-ax
  • Archaic
9.9

A weapon with a hammer head on one side and an axe blade on the other for fighting

is a broad bladed weapon used generally in battle rather than a mixed form

How Large

poleaxe
  • Archaic
9.9
battle-ax
  • US
1 8.4
ax
  • US
129 1.0
hatchet
57 3.8

Surface Forms

battle-ax singular
battle-axes plural

Morphology

battle-ax = battle + ax (transparent) = battle + ax

Direct compound meaning 'an ax used in battle' is straightforward and derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Battle-ax is a simple combination of battle ('fight') and ax ('a tool with a blade'), originally used for a large, heavy ax made for use in war. That's why a battle-ax means a big, broad-bladed ax used as a weapon.