cudgel

English

/ˈkʌdʒəl/

noun
Definitions
  • A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon.
  • (figurative) Anything that can be used as a threat to force one's will on another.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English kuggel inherited from Old English cyċġel (cudgel, a large stick) inherited from Proto-Germanic *kuggilaz (knobbed instrument), *kuggǭ (swelling, cog) derived from Proto-Indo-European *gewgʰ- (swelling, bow), *gew- (hand, bend, curve) suffix from English cog (small boat).

Origin

English

cog

Gloss

small boat

Kanji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms