1. [n]  a heavy long-handled hammer used to drive stakes or wedges
2. [v]  injure badly by beating
3. [v]  split (wood) with a maul and wedges

1. \Maul\, n. [See {Mall} a hammer.]
   A heavy wooden hammer or beetle. [Written also {mall}.]
   

2. \Maul\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mauled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Mauling}.]
   1. To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound
      in a coarse manner.
            Meek modern faith to murder, hack, and maul. --Pope.
   2. To injure greatly; to do much harm to.
            It mauls not only the person misrepreseted, but him
            also to whom he is misrepresented.    --South.
   

an old name for a mallet, the rendering of the Hebrew mephits (Prov. 25:18), properly a war-club.