| impale | 1. To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake. See Empale. "Then with what life remains, impaled, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake." (Addison) 2. To inclose, as with pales or stakes; to surround. "Impale him with your weapons round about." (Shak) "Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire." (Milton) 3. To join, as two coats of arms on one shield, palewise; hence, to join in honorable mention. "Ordered the admission of St. Patrick to the same to be matched and impaled with the blessed Virgin in the honor thereof." (Fuller) Origin: See Empale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| impalement | 1. The act of impaling, or the state of being impaled. 2. An inclosing by stakes or pales, or the space so inclosed. 3. That which hedges in; inclosure. 4. The division of a shield palewise, or by a vertical line, especially. For the purpose of putting side by side the arms of husband and wife. See Impale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |