pell
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈpɛɫ// pell
n. a heavy wooden post used for practice by people learning to fight with swords. It is a very old word for a training tool.
n. a wooden post or stake planted in the ground, historically used by soldiers or knights for sword-fighting and tilting practice.
The young knight practiced his strikes against the pell every morning.
Before being allowed to spar with a real opponent, the squire spent hours hitting the pell to improve his aim.
The courtyard contained several pells, their surfaces scarred by years of heavy blows from trainees learning the fundamentals of medieval combat.
Usage
Primarily found in historical fiction or academic texts regarding medieval warfare.