different between scourge vs cudgel

English

Etymology

From Old French escorgier (“to whip”), from Vulgar Latin excorrigiare, consisting of ex- (“thoroughly”) + corrigia (“thong, whip”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sk??d?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sk?d?/
  • (US, also) IPA^(key): /sk??d?/

• Rhymes: -??(?)d?

Noun

scourge (plural scourges)

1. A source of persistent trouble such as pestilence that causes pain and suffering or widespread destruction.

2. A means to inflict such pain or destruction.
3. A whip, often of leather.

Translations

Verb

scourge (third-person singular simple present scourges, present participle scourging, simple past and past participle scourged)

1. To strike with a scourge; to flog.

Synonyms

• (to whip or scourge): Thesaurus:whip

Translations

See also

• Scourge in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “scourge”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• scrouge

English

Etymology

From Middle English kuggel, from Old English cy??el (“a large stick, cudgel”), from Proto-Germanic *kuggilaz (“knobbed instrument”), derivative of Proto-Germanic *kugg? (“cog, swelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *gewg?- (“swelling, bow”), from Proto-Indo-European *gew-, *g?- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”), equivalent to cog +? -el (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Middle Dutch coghele (“stick with a rounded end”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?d??l/
• Rhymes: -?d??l

Noun

cudgel (plural cudgels)

1. A short heavy club with a rounded head used as a weapon.
2. (figuratively) Anything that can be used as a threat to force one's will on another.

Translations

Verb

cudgel (third-person singular simple present cudgels, present participle (US) cudgeling or (Commonwealth) cudgelling, simple past and past participle (US) cudgeled or (Commonwealth) cudgelled)

1. To strike with a cudgel.
   • 1950, Jack Vance, Dying Earth, "Mazirian the Magician"

     Aboard the barge and so off the trail, the blessing lost its puissance and the barge-tender, who coveted Guyal's rich accoutrements, sought to cudgel him with a knoblolly.

2. To exercise (one's wits or brains).

Translations

See also

• club
• singlestick

Further reading

• club (weapon) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• cludge