Poleax /(?)/

Pole·ax

Poleax

n.
  1. Anciently, a kind of battle-ax with a long handle; later, an ax or hatchet with a short handle, and a head variously patterned; -- used by soldiers, and also by sailors in boarding a vessel.

poleax

v. t.
  1. To fell with or as if with a poleax; -- often used figuratively; as, the entire department was poleaxed after the takeover.
  2. Stunned; astonished;; as, we couldn't speak, poleaxed by the sight in fronnt fo us.