impale

English

Alternative forms

• empale (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpeɪl/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -eɪl

Verb

impale (third-person singular simple present impales, present participle impaling, simple past and past participle impaled)

1. (transitive) To pierce (something) with any long, pointed object.
2. (transitive, heraldry) To place two coats of arms side by side on the same shield (often those of two spouses upon marriage).
3. (transitive, intransitive) To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake.
4. (transitive, intransitive) To enclose or fence with stakes.
   • 1624, John Smith, “The Present Estate of New-Plimoth”, in John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: , London: I D and I H for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, book 6; republished as The Generall Historie of Virginia, , London: I D and I H for Edward Blackmore, 1632, →OCLC, page 247:

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

Synonyms

• (pierce something with any long, pointed object): fix, stake, stick, run through, transfix
• (enclose or fence with stakes): pale, palisade, picket

Derived terms

• impaler, impalement

Translations