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
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Origin and Etymology of maul
Middle English malle mace, maul, from Anglo-French mail, from Latin malleus; akin to Old Church Slavonic mlatŭ hammer, Latin molere to grind — more at meal
First Known Use: 13th century
maul
Definition of maul
mauler
nounExamples of maul in a Sentence
A bear killed one hiker and badly mauled the other.
demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police
Origin and Etymology of maul
see 1maul
First Known Use: 13th century
MAUL Defined for English Language Learners
maul
Definition of maul for English Language Learners
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: to attack and injure (someone) in a way that cuts or tears skin : to attack (someone) and cause a bloody injury
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: to touch or handle (someone) in a rough sexual way
MAUL Defined for Kids
Definition of maul for Students
1 : a heavy hammer used especially for driving wedges or posts
2 : a sledgehammer with one wedge-shaped end that is used to split wood
Definition of maul for Students
mauled
;mauling
1 : 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
2 : to handle roughly
Learn More about maul
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See words that rhyme with maul Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for maul Spanish Central: Translation of maul Nglish: Translation of maul for Spanish speakers
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