Em‐pale″, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Empaled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Empaling.] [OF. empaler to palisade, pierce, F. empaler to punish by empalement; pref. em- (L. in) + OF. & F. pal a pale, stake. See Pale a stake, and cf. Impale.] [Written also impale.] 1. To fence or fortify with stakes; to surround with a line of stakes for defense; to impale.
All that dwell near enemies empale villages, to save themselves from surprise. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. To inclose; to surround. See Impale.
3. To put to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the body.
4. (Her.) Same as Impale.