mauler

maul

M0062300 (môl)n.1. a. A heavy, long-handled hammer used especially to drive stakes, piles, or wedges.b. A heavy hammer having a wedge-shaped head and used for splitting logs.2. Sports a. A play in Rugby in which a mass of players gathers around a ball carrier being tackled and attempts to gain possession of the ball when it is released.b. The mass of players during such a play.tr.v. mauled, maul·ing, mauls 1. a. To injure or mutilate, as by scratching or beating: stories of hikers mauled by wild animals; a boxer who mauled his opponent. See Synonyms at mangle¹.b. To defeat handily: The home team was mauled in the season opener.2. To handle or treat roughly, causing damage: The package was mauled by the careless messenger.3. To split (wood) with a maul and wedge.

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[Middle English malle, from Old French mail, from Latin malleus; see melə- in Indo-European roots.]

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maul′er n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

mauler - a fighter who batters the opponent; "Jack Dempsey was called a mauler"battler, belligerent, combatant, fighter, scrapper - someone who fights (or is fighting)