Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cudgel?

\Cudg"el\ (k?j"?l), n. [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel.] A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon. He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. --Bunyan. {Cudgel play}, a fight or sportive contest with cudgels. {To cross the cudgels}, to forbear or give up the contest; -- a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended. {To take up cudgels for}, to engage in a contest in behalf of (some one or something).
\Cudg"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cudgeled} or {Cudgelled} (-?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cudgeling} or {cudgelling}.] To beat with a cudgel. An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. --Shak. {To cudgel one's brains}, to exercise one's wits.