cudgel

• Bâton court et épais utilisé comme arme ou pour frapper ; terme souvent archaïque ou littéraire désignant une massue ou un gourdin.

A short, thick stick used as a weapon, now considered an archaic or literary term.

1. Short thick stickC1formal

   A short, thick stick used as a weapon.

   Gourdin

   • The guard carried a heavy cudgel for protection.
   • He struck the attacker with a wooden cudgel.
   • In medieval times, peasants often used cudgels in fights.

   Synonymesbatonbillybludgeonclubnightstickshillelaghtruncheon

• Verbe signifiant frapper ou battre avec un gros bâton ou une massue courte et épaisse.

A verb meaning to strike or beat with a short, thick club or stick.

1. Beat with a clubC2formal

   To strike or beat someone with a short, thick stick or club.

   Frapper avec un gourdin

   • The guard cudgeled the intruder until he fell.
   • In the old days, criminals were sometimes cudgeled in the streets.
   • He was cudgeled by the mob for his crimes.

   Synonymesbatterbeatbludgeonclobberclubdrubpummelthrash

2. Think hardC2formalbritish

   To force oneself to think deeply or struggle to remember something (used in the phrase 'cudgel one's brains').

   Se creuser la tête

   • He cudgeled his brains trying to recall the password.
   • She cudgeled her brains for a solution to the puzzle.
   • I cudgeled my brains but couldn't remember his name.

   Synonymesbeatrackwrack