n. [ OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel. ] A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon. [ 1913 Webster ]

He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

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). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled p. pr. & vb. n. Cudgeling or cudgelling. ] To beat with a cudgel. [ 1913 Webster ]

An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To cudgel one's brains, to exercise one's wits. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who beats with a cudgel. [ Written also cudgeller. ] [ 1913 Webster ]