impalement

• empalement (obsolete)

impale +‎ -ment

Gardenia flower projecting from the impalement of its enclosing calyx

impalement (countable and uncountable, plural impalements)

1. The act of torturing or executing someone by impaling them on a sharp stake.
2. (heraldry) The joining of two coats of arms on one shield.
3. A space fenced in, such as by palings, possibly in the form of an enclosure or cup.
4. (botany) (obsolete) In the sense of an enclosure, the calyx of a flower. In still older works, also spelt empalement (q.v.)
   • 1823 Mead, Charles. "The School Exercise"

     The parts of fructification are seven in number... The First part is the calyx, impalement, or flower cup.