mauling
noun
[ ˈmɔːlɪŋ ]
• an attack by an animal causing serious injury.
• "increased incidences of grizzly bear maulings"
maul
verb
• (of an animal) wound (a person or animal) by scratching and tearing.
• "a man was mauled by a lion at London Zoo"
Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘hammer or wooden club’, also ‘strike with a heavy weapon’): from Old French mail, from Latin malleus ‘hammer’.
