Talk:Pollaxe

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[edit] Etymology

I tend to agree with the OED here, but I'm glad to see a serious source provided for the idea that this word comes from "pole." However, it seems silly to trance the word all the way back to Latin palus: according to this theory, pollaxe came from pole+axe. Why give the etymology of the word pole? Especially if we're not going to give the etymology of the word "axe" too. --Iustinus 21:42, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Combine with Warhammer?

Maybe this should be combined with the Warhammer article?

While I suppose some could consider the warhammer a type of pollaxe, I don't think it quite qualifies as a close enough to merit a combination. The pollaxe is somewhat more varied in construction than the hammer (almost making it a larger broad category) as the article states. Naturally, variance in structure (especially the length [4-6.5] of the haft] means variance in use. The closest overlap, I believe, comes in the longer warhammers used, which would still lack (potentially) a cutting blade, flukes, and the top "spear point". If anything, I would suggest moving the warhammer article into this one, as the pollaxe provides a larger blanket of physical properties, some of which fit the warhammer.Xiliquiern 19:54, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pollaxe?

Interesting. I have to admit, when I clicked this link, I half expected to find some neologism about cutting through surveys (poll + axe). I've always seen it as poleaxe, as a result of it's a polearm, not a pollarm. Weird. LordAmeth 23:24, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

...and on that note, PirateLoriate, in the process making some very good edits overall, changed "however the accepted term is pollaxe" to "the standard spelling "pollaxe" is most common." One small problem: pollaxe is definitely not most common, as a quick google search shows. It's also questionable that this is a "standard" spelling: the AHD lists it under poleax, and the OED lists it as poleaxe (link requires subscription, but see footnote in article for details). Pollaxe might be more correct in a historical sense (if the "poll" etymology is correct), it might be a spelling prefered by weapons experts (I don't know), and I confess that I like having it under this spelling (for what that's worth), but whatever the case, that spelling doesn't seem to be "common" or "standard." --Iustinus 19:13, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

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