Definition: maul

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

maul
     n : a heavy long-handled hammer used to drive stakes or wedges
         [syn: sledge, sledgehammer]
     v 1: split (wood) with a maul and wedges
     2: injure badly by beating [syn: mangle]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Mall \Mall\ (m[add]l; 277), n. [Written also maul.] [OE.
   malle, F. mail, L. malleus. Cf. Malleus.]
   1. A large heavy wooden beetle; a mallet for driving anything
      with force; a maul. --Addison.

   2. A heavy blow. [Obs.] --Spenser.

   3. An old game played with malls or mallets and balls. See
      Pall-mall. --Cotton.

   4. A place where the game of mall was played. Hence: A public
      walk; a level shaded walk.

            Part of the area was laid out in gravel walks, and
            planted with elms; and these convenient and
            frequented walks obtained the name of the City Mall.
                                                  --Southey.
Maul \Maul\, n. [See Mall a hammer.]
   A heavy wooden hammer or beetle. [Written also mall.]
Maul \Maul\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mauled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Mauling.]
   1. To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound
      in a coarse manner.

            Meek modern faith to murder, hack, and maul. --Pope.

   2. To injure greatly; to do much harm to.

            It mauls not only the person misrepreseted, but him
            also to whom he is misrepresented.    --South.

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary 

Maul
   an old name for a mallet, the rendering of the Hebrew mephits
   (Prov. 25:18), properly a war-club.