Dictionary

impale en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪmˈpeɪl/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle French, from Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin palus, whence also pale.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To pierce (something) with any long, pointed object.
2. (transitive) To place two coats of arms side by side on the same shield (often those of two spouses upon marriage).
3. (ambitransitive) To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake.
4. (ambitransitive) To enclose or fence with stakes.
   • [T]he Tovvne is impailed about halfe a mile compaſſe. 1624, John Smith, “The Present Estate of Nevv-Plimoth”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Edward Blackmore, published 1632, →OCLC, 6th booke, page 247:

Forms

Deriveds

unimpale · impalement · impaler · impalation

Hyponyms

cut · stab · drill · bore · skewer · spit

Relateds

make a hole

Synonyms

pierce · pale (enclose or fence with stakes) · prick · stake (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · stick (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · empierce · palisade (enclose or fence with stakes) · puncture · transfix (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · run through (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · impale · transpierce · fix (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · picket (enclose or fence with stakes)

Translations (57)

is setja á nál (put to death by piercing with a pale) · el καρφώνω (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · da spidde (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · el ανασκολοπίζω (put to death by piercing with a pale) · pl nabijać na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · fi keihästää (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · mi kōhiku (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · de erstechen (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ca empalar (put to death by piercing with a pale) · fi seivästää (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · es ensartar (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · bg пробождам (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · nl spietsen (put to death by piercing with a pale) · mk набодува (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · de aufspießen (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · sh probosti (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · nl doorboren (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · es atravesar (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · ota قازیقلامق (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · ru прока́лывать (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · pl wbić na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · is stinga á tein (put to death by piercing with a pale) · pt empalar (put to death by piercing with a pale) · is stjaksetja (put to death by piercing with a pale) · bg нанижа (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · hu karóba húz (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ru проколо́ть (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · ru посади́ть на́ кол (put to death by piercing with a pale) · is reka í gegn (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · fr empaler (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · pl nabić na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · bg набивам на кол (put to death by piercing with a pale) · es empalar (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ru протыка́ть (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · de pfählen (put to death by piercing with a pale) · bg пронижа (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · ota قازیقلامق (put to death by piercing with a pale) · non leggja (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · da spidde (put to death by piercing with a pale) · bg пробода (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · es empalar (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · pl nadziewać na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · sh nabiti na kolac (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ru проткну́ть (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · mk набодува (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ru пронзи́ть (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · sh nabosti (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · fi seivästää (put to death by piercing with a pale) · pl wbijać na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · pl nadziać na pal (put to death by piercing with a pale) · ru сажа́ть на́ кол (put to death by piercing with a pale) · bg пронизвам (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · bg нанизвам (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · ru пронза́ть (pierce something with any long, pointed object) · it impalare (put to death by piercing with a pale) · mk набива (put to death by piercing with a pale) · fr empaler (put to death by piercing with a pale)