club
UK: klʌb | US: klʌb
n. a heavy stick used as a weapon or for hitting objects
n. an organization or group of people with shared interests
n. a place where people gather for social activities or entertainment
vt. to hit with a heavy object
The word "club" traces back to Old Norse "klubba," meaning a heavy stick or cudgel. It originally referred to a blunt weapon, later expanding to describe social gatherings (from the idea of people "gathering" like a bundle of sticks) and organizations (metaphorically uniting members like a bound group). The verb form retains the original sense of striking.
He swung the wooden club to defend himself.
She joined a book club to discuss novels with friends.
The nightclub was crowded with dancers.
Police clubbed the protesters to disperse the crowd.
Golfers carefully chose their clubs for the tournament.