a heavy hammer, as for driving stakes or wedges.

Archaic . a heavy club or mace.

to handle or use roughly

The book was badly mauled by its borrowers.

to injure by a rough beating, shoving, or the like; bruise

to be mauled by an angry crowd.

to split with a maul and wedge, as a wooden rail.

verb

guard , maintain , protect , take care

verb

bang , bash , batter , beat , beat up , bludgeon , break face , buffet , claw , clean , drub , flagellate , flail , handle roughly , hit , hurt , ill-treat , knock about * , knock around , lacerate , lash , lean on , let have it , maltreat , molest , mug , muscle , paste * , paw , pelt , pound , pummel , put in the hospital , rough up , skin , take care of , thrash , trample , wax , whip , work over , knock about , mangle , abuse , bruise , club , cudgel , gavel , hammer , injure , mace , mallet , manhandle , pommel , staff , stomp