maul

1 of 2

noun

: 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

maul

2 of 2

verb

mauled; mauling; mauls

transitive verb

1
2
3
: to handle roughly
mauler noun

Examples of maul in a Sentence

Verb A bear killed one hiker and badly mauled the other. demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The half ended with the Free Jacks once again putting the Sabercats under pressure, trying to force their way over the tryline through a rolling maul, and twice failing to score. Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Minutes later, Hanover scored back-to-back tries with near identical mauls down the sideline. Marcello Rossetti, Boston Herald, 14 June 2025
Verb
Matteo is one part of what Sandoval calls the best lineout and maul in the country, giving credit to coach Ethan Willis. Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2025 The Tigers obliterated the Red Sox in a 14-2 rout, mauling Tanner Houck for 11 runs in 2.1 innings in one of the worst starts by any starting pitcher in the majors so far this year. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for maul

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maul was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maul. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

maul

1 of 2 noun
: a heavy hammer often with a wooden head used especially for driving wedges or posts

maul

2 of 2 verb
1
: to beat and bruise severely
2
3
: to handle roughly
mauler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on maul

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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