cudgel

[ kuhj-uhl ]

noun

1. a short, thick stick used as a weapon; club.

verb (used with object)

, cudg·eled, cudg·el·ing, or (especially British) cudg·elled, cudg·el·ling.

1. to strike with a cudgel; beat.

cudgel

/ ˈkʌdʒəl /

noun

1. a short stout stick used as a weapon
2. take up the cudgels
   often foll byfor or on behalf of to join in a dispute, esp to defend oneself or another

verb

1. tr to strike with a cudgel or similar weapon
2. cudgel one's brains
   to think hard about a problem

Derived Forms

• ˈcudgeller, noun

Other Words From

• cudgel·er especially British, cudgel·ler noun
• un·cudgeled adjective
• un·cudgelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cudgel¹

before 900; Middle English cuggel, Old English cycgel; akin to German Kugel ball

Word History and Origins

Origin of cudgel¹

Old English cycgel; related to Middle Dutch koghele stick with knob

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cudgel one's brains, to try to comprehend or remember:

   I cudgeled my brains to recall her name.

2. take up the cudgels, to come to the defense or aid of someone or something.

Example Sentences

“We saw the GOP and conservative forces from Trump on down the ticket use the fear of crime as a political cudgel.”

From Los Angeles Times

Presidents have an extraordinary amount of discretion when it comes to disaster aid, which Trump reportedly wielded as a political cudgel during his presidency.

From Los Angeles Times

This scene emphasizes the film’s “savor every moment” theme that “We Live in Time” relentlessly cudgels viewers with for 108 endless minutes.

From Salon

“He’s learned lessons the hard way,” says Professor Haykel, who says MBS resents the case being used as cudgel against him and his country, but that a killing like Khashoggi’s would not happen again.

From BBC

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and conservative news outlets have used politically divisive issue of immigration as a cudgel to attack President Biden.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• nightstick
• truncheon