Battle-ax \Bat"tle-ax`\ Battle-axe \Bat"tle-axe`\(-[a^]ks`), n. (Mil.) A kind of broadax formerly used as an offensive weapon. [1913 Webster]
Battle-axe a mallet or heavy war-club. Applied metaphorically (Jer. 51:20) to Cyrus, God's instrument in destroying Babylon.