battle axe

Noun

battle axe (plural battle axes)

1. An ancient military weapon, an axe designed for combat, including (in heraldry) when borne on arms as a mark of prowess.
   • Another battle-ax, in the same collection.1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page x
   • No Jute is left to wield a sword to save this hoard. No one is left to swing the battle-ax skyward.1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 40
2. (humorous, informal, sometimes) A domineering, antagonistic woman.
   • My mother-in-law is a real battle axe.

   Synonyms:

   shrew

3. (informal) An electric guitar.
   • The instruments (one's named Baby) evoke tender talk from macho musicians. But some of these battle-ax beauties have seen more action than a roller derby queen: They bear the gashes and sweat stains to prove it.2013, Kiley Armstrong, “"108 Rock Star Guitars" reveals battle-ax beauty”, in Associated Press
4. (Australia) An allotment of land at the rear of another property, with a long, narrow strip of land connecting it to the roadway.

   Synonyms:

   flag lot