Cudg·el n.  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).
  Cudg·el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled 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.
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  cudgel
       n : a club that is used as a weapon
       v : strike with a cudgel
       [also: cudgelling, cudgelled]