maul

Etymology

From Middle English malle (“mace, maul”), from Anglo-Norman mail, from Old French mail, from Latin malleus (“hammer”). Doublet of malleus.

noun

1. A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
2. (rugby) A situation where the player carrying the ball, who must be on his feet, is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier's team mates bind onto the ball carrier.

verb

1. To handle someone or something in a rough way.
2. To savage; to cause serious physical wounds (usually used of an animal).
   The bear mauled him in a terrible way.
   The embattled heavy cruiser is not in immediate danger of sinking, but is being badly mauled. 27 February 2019, Drachinifel, 26:02 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 2022-11-03
3. (figurative) To criticise harshly.
   The latest film by the Cohen brothers was mauled by the press, and was a box-office flop to boot.
4. (transitive) To beat with a maul.