battle-ax

noun

bat·​tle-ax ˈba-tᵊl-ˌaks How to pronounce battle-ax (audio)
variants or battle-axe
1
: a broadax formerly used as a weapon of war
2
: a usually older woman who is sharp-tongued, domineering, or combative

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of battle-ax was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near battle-ax

Cite this Entry

“Battle-ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle-ax. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

battle-ax

noun
bat·​tle-ax
variants or battle-axe
ˈbat-ᵊl-ˌaks
: an ax with a broad blade formerly used as a weapon
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!