Cudgelled [verb]

The adherents of the ministers were victorious, put the adverse mob to the rout, and cudgelled Colt himself into a muddy ditch.

I wish you had run all risks, and cudgelled the old burgomaster soundly.

Patty realised the appropriateness of this phrase, and cudgelled her brain for an appropriate reply.

Mrs. Potter cudgelled her poor brains for some—for any—kind of explanation.

I cudgelled my brains in vain to think where they had got their information.

No one had thought of anything, but they were all loathe to admit it, so each one cudgelled his brains vigorously.

He cudgelled his brains for the meaning of it all, till they grew dull and weary with futile thinking.

Go home and get brown paper and vinegar and tell all the town how you have been cudgelled for writing verses to a matchless maid.

The pageants were fanciful enough, and poor Settle must have cudgelled his dull brains well for it.

The half of comic literature depends upon someone's getting cudgelled or ducked in a well, or subjected to some pain.