Hypertext Webster Gateway: "cudgel"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cudgel \Cudg"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cudgeled} or {Cudgelled}
(-?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Cudgeling} or {cudgelling}.]
To beat with a cudgel.
An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. --Shak.
{To cudgel one's brains}, to exercise one's wits.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cudgel \Cudg"el\ (k?j"?l), n. [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club
(with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or
D. cudse, kuds, cudgel.]
A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff,
and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a
weapon.
He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . .
falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. --Bunyan.
{Cudgel play}, a fight or sportive contest with cudgels.
{To cross the cudgels}, to forbear or give up the contest; --
a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who
lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended.
{To take up cudgels for}, to engage in a contest in behalf of
(some one or something).
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
cudgel
n : a club that is used as a weapon
v : strike with a cudgel
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