poleaxe/ˈpoʊlˌæks/EtymologyFrom earlier pollax, from poll (“head”) + axe, with the spelling influenced by pole.nounAn ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle.A long-handled battle axe, being a combination of ax, hammer and pike.verbTo fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe.To astonish; to shock or surprise utterly.“Lisa Griffin, who runs Brew Rock and an Irish pub in nearby Benidorm, was as poleaxed by the announcement as her customers were.”To stymie, thwart, cripple, paralyze.“After a lacklustre campaign that has failed to grapple with Germany’s looming problems, the world should expect post-election coalition talks to last for months, poleaxing European politics while they drag on.”