impalement

noun

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

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