cudgel

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English kuggel, from Old English cyċġel (“a large stick, cudgel”), from Proto-West Germanic *kuggil, from Proto-Germanic *kuggilaz (“a knobbed instrument”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *kuggǭ (“cog, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *gewgʰ- (“swelling, bow”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”), equivalent to cog +‎ -el (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Middle Dutch coghele (“a stick with a rounded end”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkʌd͡ʒəl/ Rhymes: -ʌdʒəl === Noun === cudgel (plural cudgels) A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon. (figurative) Anything that can be used as a threat to force one's will on another. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === cudgel (third-person singular simple present cudgels, present participle (US) cudgeling or (UK) cudgelling, simple past and past participle (US) cudgeled or (UK) cudgelled) To strike with a cudgel. To exercise (one's wits or brains) in an effort to force a memory or solution; to rack (one's mind). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === club singlestick === Further reading === club (weapon) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === cludge