impale
verbUK, US /ɪmˈpeɪl/
Etymology From Middle French, from Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin palus, whence also pale.
1
To pierce (something) with any long, pointed object.
2
Government, Heraldry, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Monarchy, Nobility, Politics To place two coats of arms side by side on the same shield (often those of two spouses upon marriage).
3
Ambitransitive To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake.
4
Ambitransitive To enclose or fence with stakes.
- [T]he Tovvne is impailed about halfe a mile compaſſe.1624, John Smith, “The Present Estate of Nevv-Plimoth”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Edward Blackmore, published 1632, →OCLC, 6th booke, page 247:
- Synonyms
- fix, stake, stick, run through, transfix, pale, palisade, picket, empierce, impale, pierce, prick, puncture, transpierce
- Derived terms
- impalation, impalement, impaler, unimpale
- Related terms
- make a hole