Halberd
A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge) is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. The word halberd may come from the German words Halm (staff), and Barte (axe). In modern-day German, the weapon is called a Hellebarde. In historical European martial arts (HEMA), professional halberd practitioners are referred to as halberdiers.
The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It always has a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling mounted combatants. It is very similar to certain forms of the voulge in design and usage. The halberd was usually 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 feet) long.
Poleaxe
The pollaxe is a type of European polearm. It was widely used by medieval infantry. It is also known by the names poleaxe, pole-axe, pole axe, polax, and Hache (French meaning axe).
The term has become synonymous with felling or striking down with delivery of a blow.
Halberd (noun)
A hand weapon consisting of a long pole fitted with a metal head; the head consists of a blade similar to an axe and usually a spike or hook.
Poleaxe (noun)
An ax having both a blade and a hammer face; used to slaughter cattle.
Poleaxe (noun)
A long-handled battle-ax, being a combination of ax, hammer and pike.
Poleaxe (verb)
To fell someone with, or as if with, a poleaxe.
Poleaxe (verb)
To astonish; to shock or surprise utterly.
Halberd (noun)
a combined spear and battleaxe.
Poleaxe (noun)
another term for battleaxe (sense 1)
Poleaxe (noun)
a short-handled axe with a spike at the back, formerly used in naval warfare for boarding, resisting boarders, and cutting ropes.
Poleaxe (noun)
a butcher’s axe with a hammer head at the back, used to slaughter animals.
Poleaxe (verb)
hit, kill, or knock down with or as if with a poleaxe
“the tigress had fallen to my bullet as if poleaxed”
Poleaxe (verb)
cause great shock to
“I was poleaxed by this revelation”