v. t. 1. To fell with or as if with a poleax; -- often used figuratively; as, the entire department was poleaxed after the takeover. [ WordNet 1.5 + PJC ]

2. Stunned; astonished;; as, we couldn't speak, poleaxed by the sight in fronnt fo us. [ PJC ]

{ } n. [ OE. pollax; cf. OD. pollexe. See Poll head, and Ax. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]