Cudg"el (k?j"?l), n. [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel.]
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.
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).
© Webster 1913.
Cudg"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled (-ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cudgeling or cudgelling.]
To beat with a cudgel.
An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog.
Shak.
To cudgel one's brains, to exercise one's wits.
© Webster 1913.