to pierce with something pointed
to torture or kill by piercing with a sharp stake
to pierce (somebody, oneself, or something) with something pointed
to torture or kill (somebody) by piercing them with a sharp stake
in heraldry, to put (two coats of arms) together on a shield with a pale3 (a broad vertical band) between them
impalement noun
[early French empaler from medieval Latin impalare, from in-2 + Latin palus stake]