impale

[ im-peyl ]

verb (used with object)

, im·paled, im·pal·ing.

1. to fasten, stick, or fix upon a sharpened stake or the like.
2. to pierce with a sharpened stake thrust up through the body, as for torture or punishment.
3. to fix upon, or pierce through with, anything pointed.
4. to make helpless as if pierced through.
5. Archaic. to enclose with or as if with pales or stakes; fence in; hem in.
6. Heraldry.
   1. to marshal (two coats of arms, as the family arms of a husband and wife) on an escutcheon party per pale.
   2. (of a coat of arms) to be combined with (another coat of arms) in this way.

impale

/ ɪmˈpeɪl /

verb

1. often foll byon, upon, or with to pierce with a sharp instrument

   they impaled his severed head on a spear

2. archaic.
   to enclose with pales or fencing; fence in
3. heraldry to charge (a shield) with two coats of arms placed side by side

Derived Forms

• imˈpalement, noun
• imˈpaler, noun

Other Words From

• im·paler noun
• im·palement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impale¹

1545–55; < Medieval Latin impālāre, equivalent to Latin im- im- ¹ + pāl ( us ) pale ² + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of impale¹

C16: from Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin im- (in) + pālus pale ²

Example Sentences

An Italian surfer died last week after being impaled by a swordfish in the waters of Masokut Island in Indonesia.

From Los Angeles Times

Tributes have been made to a surfer who died after reportedly being impaled by a swordfish in Indonesia.

From BBC

And when a Labrador retriever owned by another company officer gulped down a bagel impaled with a toothpick, he said, most of the resulting $10,5000 surgical bill was covered as well.

From New York Times

Michigan and Wisconsin hold sturgeon spearing seasons each winter as well where anglers drill holes through lake ice and impale sturgeon as they swim past.

From Seattle Times

One volunteer said the two birds "were impaled on the shop door handles" and had to be removed to get into the shop.

From BBC

Related Words

• prick
• transfix