CUDGEL

cudgel. Cudgel, n. a thick stick, a fighting-stick

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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).