estocada

[ es-tuh-kah-duh; Spanish es-taw-kah-thah ]

noun

1. the thrust of the sword by the matador into the bull in the final stage of a bullfight, designed to kill the bull.

Word History and Origins

Origin of estocada¹

1570–80; < Spanish < Middle French estoqu ( ier ) to give sword thrusts ( estoc ) + Spanish -ada -ade ¹

Example Sentences

The squat, rugged La Motta was going to brawl with furious energy and the lithe, elegant, Robinson would swerve and shimmy and toy with his opponent, torturing him until his spirit was broken and his body open to a decisive estocada.

From The Guardian

They feel the wildness of anger, and they charge and charge again until the estocada, the death stab.

From Project Gutenberg

During this interruption Jos� Maria stepped aside, then came back to capture the crowd with his kill�an estocada in which his glittering sword pierced the bull cleanly from shoulder through belly.

From Time Magazine Archive

Before I could extricate myself," writes Sidney Joseph Perelman, "the auctioneer had brought me to my knees and was administering the estocada.

From Time Magazine Archive

Of course it was out of all question to inflict on so gentle and resigned an enemy another estocada—and yet the public could not afford to wait the bull's leisure to die, as it was necessary to continue the sport.

From Project Gutenberg