maul
verbEtymology From Middle English malle (“mace, maul”), from Anglo-Norman mail, from Old French mail, from Latin malleus (“hammer”). Doublet of malleus.
1
To handle someone or something in a rough way.
2
Usually, Of an animal To savage; to cause serious physical wounds.
- The bear mauled him in a terrible way.
- The embattled heavy cruiser is not in immediate danger of sinking, but is being badly mauled.2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 26:02 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:
1 more example
- A tiger handler who had acquired some of his tigers from the zoo owner known as Joe Exotic was fatally mauled on Saturday by a tiger at his family-run zoo in southeastern Oklahoma, the authorities said.2025 September 22, Michael Levenson, “Tiger Handler Linked to Joe Exotic Is Fatally Mauled by Tiger”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
3
Figuratively To criticise harshly.
- The latest film by the Cohen brothers was mauled by the press, and was a box-office flop to boot.
4
To beat with a maul.
- 28 year old big, burly, bearded grizzly looking for other bears to maul me! Facial/body hair, brains a plus!1990 January 21, “Fuck Buddy/ies wanted”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 27, Personals, page 13: