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Added 10 October 2026

bludgeon

/ˈblʌd͡ʒ.ən/ noun

First recorded: 1730 Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bludgeon at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A club used as a weapon.

verb

Overcome or coerce as if by using a heavy club.
The teacher bludgeoned the students into learning the math formulas
Strike with a club or a bludgeon.

Origin

First attested in 1730. Origin uncertain, perhaps of Cornish origin (recorded as blogon c. 1450) or from Middle French bougeon, a diminutive of bouge (“club, stick”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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