English Dictionary
Definition of “maul”
maul (mɔːl
)
Definitions
verb (tr)
- to handle clumsily; paw
- to batter or lacerate
noun
- a heavy two-handed hammer suitable for driving piles, wedges, etc
- rugby a loose scrum that forms around a player who is holding the ball and on his feet
Alternative Forms
ˈmauler noun Word Origin
C13: from Old French mail, from Latin malleus hammer. See mallet
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
ill-treat,
beat,
abuse,
batter,
thrash,
beat up,
molest,
work over,
pummel,
manhandle,
rough up,
handle roughly knock about or around beat or knock seven bells out of
Usage examples
`A bear maul you, he rip you with his feet, front feet, back feet, he don't care.
Wood, Ted, Fools Gold (1986)One cannot afford to let Classic sink, as it will maul the image of ITC.
Business Today (1997)Behind the calm facade, a rolling maul of issues clouds the famous venue's future.
New Zealand Herald (2003)Stringer retrieved the ball from a rolling maul , picked out O'Gara, who in turn fed Brian O'Driscoll.
Sun, News of the World (2005)Three years later his courageous decision enabled the RAF to counter and badly maul the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.
Bramson, Alan, Pure Luck - the authorized biography of Sir Thomas Sopwith CBE (1990)
