impale

• empale (obsolete)

From Medieval Latin impālāre, from Latin palus.

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpeɪl/

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• Rhymes: -eɪl

impale (third-person singular simple present impales, present participle impaling, simple past and past participle impaled)

1. (transitive) To pierce (something) with any long, pointed object.
2. (transitive, heraldry) To place two coats of arms side by side on the same shield (often those of two spouses upon marriage).
3. (transitive, intransitive) To pierce with a pale; to put to death by fixing on a sharp stake.
4. (transitive, intransitive) To enclose or fence with stakes.
   • 1624, John Smith, “The Present Estate of New-Plimoth”, in John Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: Printed by I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, OCLC 1049014009, book 6; republished as The Generall Historie of Virginia, [...], London: Printed by I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Edward Blackmore, 1632, OCLC 55196040, page 247:

     [T]he Towne is impailed about halfe a mile compaſſe.

• (pierce something with any long, pointed object): fix, stake, stick, run through, transfix
• (enclose or fence with stakes): pale, palisade, picket