impale Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb pierce with a sharp stake or point
    spike; empale; transfix.
    • impale a shrimp on a skewer
  2. verb kill by piercing with a spear or sharp pole
    stake.
    • the enemies were impaled and left to die

WordNet

Im*pale" transitive verb
Etymology
See 2d Empale.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Impaled ; present participle & verbal noun Impaling
Definitions
  1. To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake. See Empale.
    Then with what life remains, impaled, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake. Addison.
  2. To inclose, as with pales or stakes; to surround.
    Impale him with your weapons round about. Shak.
    Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire. Milton.
  3. (Her.) To join, as two coats of arms on one shield, palewise; hence, to join in honorable mention.
    Ordered the admission of St. Patrick to the same to be matched and impaled with the blessed Virgin in the honor thereof. Fuller.

Webster 1913