cudgel

About 0.20 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon.

   The guard hefted his cudgel menacingly and looked at the inmates.

2. noun Anything that can be used as a threat to force one's will on another.
3. verb To strike with a cudgel.

   The officer was violently cudgeled down in the midst of the rioters.

4. verb To exercise (one's wits or brains) in an effort to force a memory or solution; to rack (one's mind).

Similar words

beat club stick blackthorn bat truncheon bludgeon crabstick gavelock billy club

Often followed by

in and of to for with or on against

Word family

cudgeled cudgeling cudgelled cudgelling cudgels