impalement

Im*pale"ment, n. 1. The act of impaling, or the state of being impaled. Byron. 2. An inclosing by stakes or pales, or the space so inclosed. H. Brooke. 3. That which hedges in; inclosure. [R.] Milton. 4. (Her.) Defn: The division of a shield palewise, or by a vertical line, esp. for the purpose of putting side by side the arms of husband and wife. See Impale, 3.

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