maul

[ mawl ]

noun

1. a heavy hammer, as for driving stakes or wedges.
2. Archaic. a heavy club or mace.

verb (used with object)

1. to handle or use roughly:

   The book was badly mauled by its borrowers.

2. to injure by a rough beating, shoving, or the like; bruise:

   to be mauled by an angry crowd.

3. to split with a maul and wedge, as a wooden rail.

maul

/ mɔːl /

verb

1. to handle clumsily; paw
2. to batter or lacerate

noun

1. a heavy two-handed hammer suitable for driving piles, wedges, etc
2. rugby a loose scrum that forms around a player who is holding the ball and on his feet

Derived Forms

• ˈmauler, noun

Other Words From

• maul·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maul¹

First recorded in 1200–50; (noun) Middle English malle, from Old French mail “mallet, hammer,” from Latin malleus “hammer”; (verb) Middle English mallen, from Old French maillier, derivative of noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maul¹

C13: from Old French mail, from Latin malleus hammer. See mallet

Example Sentences

Flanker Underhill then showed his power for the second week in a row close to the try-line to extend the lead, before captain George dotted down twice from rampaging mauls.

From BBC

But three days on from the Australia mauling, Gatland said he has had no indication from anybody that he would not be in charge beyond the upcoming game against the Springboks.

From BBC

A woman who was mauled to death by her pet dog may have suffered an epileptic seizure which triggered the attack, an inquest has heard.

From BBC

Wallabies demonstrated another side to their game when Faessler was driven over from a maul before Wales finally fired an attacking shot with a clever finish from Wainwright.

From BBC

Once England halted the Springboks maul at Twickenham in the autumn of 2018, Erasmus called for change at the set-piece after he felt his side lacked a pressure point against opposition.

From BBC

Related Words

• beat up
• bludgeon
• drub
• lacerate
• molest
• mug
• pummel
• rough up
• thrash
• trample