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cudgel

cudgel

5 8.9
A short thick stick that people use as a weapon
  • noun
  • /ˈkʌdʒəl/
: porra
  • He became too weak to use his cudgel or somersault away.

Shame was the overriding cudgel, you know, when I grew up.

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Examples

  • The cudgel flew aside; the man tottered back, looking in horror at his hands.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Drop your knives and your cudgels.

  • If you keep doing evil I'll finish you with this cudgel

  • A moment later, I came to my senses, and tossing the shattered cudgel aside, I fled.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • MORRIS jumps onto the loading dock as WEASEL exits with his cudgel.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Blows of cudgels rained upon this aching promontory.

  • A scuffle ensues, and David catches a glancing cudgel blow on his cheek and goes down.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • From the muscles cording the man's bare arms, he could quite obviously wield the knobbed cudgel to good effect.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Shaggy, wild-eyed men, armed with cudgels, scythes, and hayforks.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The soldier brandished his cudgel in preparation for the coming attack.

Synonyms

club
vscudgel
39 1.9

A thick heavy stick used to hit things or for protection

is a general heavy stick that includes sporting and tool uses
baton
vscudgel
24 5.0

A short heavy stick that police use as a weapon

is the simple offensive stick used generally, not only by police
billy club
vscudgel
  • US
6 6.7

A short thick stick police carry to hit or defend themselves

is the general short weapon used by anyone, not only police
truncheon
vscudgel
  • Archaic
5 9.0

A short thick stick police carry to hit someone or protect themselves

is the broad term for handheld fighting stick beyond police use
bludgeon
vscudgel
2 7.6

A thick heavy stick or club used as a weapon

is usually a shorter simple handheld weapon rather than very heavy
shillelagh
vscudgel
  • Irish
2 9.9

A thick wooden stick used in Ireland as a walking stick or club

is the plain short weapon without walking or cultural use
ballclub
vscudgel
  • Archaic
7.4

A short heavy stick used to hit a ball or as a weapon

is primarily a small combat stick rather than a sports implement
billystick
vscudgel
  • US
9.9

A short heavy stick that police use to hit or control people

is the neutral handheld fighting stick without specific police use
lathee
vscudgel
  • Indian
9.9

A heavy bamboo stick used by police in India to hit or control people

is the basic short thick weapon without cultural or regional ties

Idioms

1 8.9

Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public

1 9.1

To think very hard to remember or solve a problem

How Heavy

maul
2 7.5
to club
20 5.1
cudgel
5 8.9
stick
829 1.0
twig
58 1.0

Surface Forms

cudgel singular
cudgels plural

Etymology

Cudgel comes from an old word for a short, thick stick used in fights; imagine a small club you hold in your hand. So, a cudgel is a heavy short stick used as a weapon.