Originally posted by dansweeney

Reference: Webster's New School & Office Dictionary, published by THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY, Cleveland and New York.
"cudgel (ku'jel), n. a short thick stick: v.t. to beat with a cudgel."
It is used fairly often in the idiomatic expresssion, "take the cudgels for..." Meaning, go to the defense of, beat off criticisms on behalf of, or, sometimes, take the punishment on behalf of.

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