First Known Use: 1605
Dictionary
impale
verb im·pale \im-ˈpāl\
: to cause a pointed object to go into or through (someone or something)
im·paledim·pal·ing
Full Definition of IMPALE
transitive verb
1
: to join (coats of arms) on a heraldic shield divided vertically by a pale
2
a : to pierce with or as if with something pointed; especially : to torture or kill by fixing on a sharp stake b : to fix in an inescapable or helpless position
— im·pale·ment \-mənt\ noun
— im·pal·er \-ˈpā-lər\ noun
See impale defined for English-language learners
See impale defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of IMPALE
Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French empaler, from Medieval Latin impalare, from Latin in- + palus stake — more at pole
Related to IMPALE
Rhymes with IMPALE
abseil, airmail, all hail, assail, avail, bake sale, bangtail, blackmail, blacktail, bobtail, broadscale, broadtail, bucktail, bud scale, canaille, cattail, chain mail, coattail, cocktail, contrail, curtail, derail, detail, doornail, dovetail, downscale, ducktail, e-mail, entail, exhale, fan mail, fantail, female, fife rail, fire sale, fishtail, folktale, foresail, foxtail, fresh gale, full-scale, gapped scale, Glendale, gray scale, greenmail, guardrail, Hallel, handrail, hangnail, headsail, hightail, hobnail, horntail, horsetail, inhale, junk mail, Longueuil, lugsail, mainsail, mare's tail, Mondale, moon snail, oxtail, pass-fail, percale, pigtail, pintail, pinwale, plate rail, pot ale, prevail, rattail, regale, resale, rescale, retail, right whale, ringtail, Sangreal, Scottsdale, sea kale, shavetail, shirttail, skysail, slop pail, small-scale, snail mail, soft hail, split rail, springtail, spritsail, square sail, staysail, strong gale, surveil, swordtail, taffrail, tag sale, telltale, third rail, thumbnail, timescale, toenail, topsail, travail, trysail, unnail, unveil, upscale, ventail, voice mail, wage scale, wagtail, wassail, whiptail, white sale, whitetail, white whale, whole gale, wholesale, yard sale
IMPALE Defined for Kids
impale
verb im·pale \im-ˈpāl\
im·paledim·pal·ing
Definition of IMPALE for Kids
: to pierce with something pointed
Learn More About IMPALE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: impalpablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: impalatableAll Words Near: impale
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up impale? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).