¹maul

noun \ˈmȯl\

Definition of MAUL

: a heavy often wooden-headed hammer used especially for driving wedges; also : a tool like a sledgehammer with one wedge-shaped end that is used to split wood

See maul defined for kids

Origin of MAUL

Middle English malle mace, maul, from Anglo-French mail, from Latin malleus; akin to Old Church Slavic mlatŭ hammer, Latin molere to grind — more at meal

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Hardware Terms

adze, auger, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with MAUL

all, awl, ball, bawl, brawl, call, caul, crawl, doll, drawl, fall, gall, hall, haul, kraal, mall, moll, pall, pawl, Saul, scall, scrawl, shawl, small, spall, sprawl, squall, stall, tall, thrall, trawl, wall, yawl

²maul

verb

: to attack and injure (someone) in a way that cuts or tears skin : to attack (someone) and cause a bloody injury

: to touch or handle (someone) in a rough sexual way

Full Definition of MAUL

transitive verb

: beat, bruise

: mangle 1

: to handle roughly

— maul·er noun

See maul defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of MAUL

13th century

Related to MAUL

Synonyms: maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, rough (up)

MAUL Defined for Kids

¹maul

noun \ˈmȯl\

Definition of MAUL for Kids

: a heavy hammer used especially for driving wedges or posts

: a sledgehammer with one wedge-shaped end that is used to split wood

²maul

verb

mauledmaul·ing

Definition of MAUL for Kids

: to attack and injure by biting, cutting, or tearing flesh <Not wishing to be mauled by the dogs … Curly had remained outside the gate … — Carl Hiaasen, Hoot>

: to handle roughly