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).

 

© Webster 1913.


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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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