01 n. A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon.
-
1.
A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon.“He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs.” — Bunyan.
Phrases & compounds
Cudgel play —
a fight or sportive contest with cudgels.
To cross the cudgels —
to forbear or give up the contest; -- a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended.
To take up cudgels for —
to engage in a contest in behalf of (some one or something).