verb ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Verb

1. 1
   To pierce (something) with any long, pointed object. transitive
2. 2
   pierce with a sharp stake or point wordnet
3. 3
   To place two coats of arms side by side on the same shield (often those of two spouses upon marriage). transitive
4. 4
   kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole wordnet
5. 5
   To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake. ambitransitive

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6. 6
   To enclose or fence with stakes. ambitransitive

   "[T]he Tovvne is impailed about halfe a mile compaſſe."

Synonyms

All synonyms

staketransfixtransfixagonizeaugerbayonet

Example

More examples

"Edmundo prepared to impale the vampire with a stake."

Etymology

From Middle French, from Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin palus, whence also pale.

Related phrases

coat of armsside by side

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.