1. past tense of coldcock; to hit someone suddenly and hard, typically on the head or jaw, often rendering them unconscious
Usage: informal; often implies an unexpected or unfair attack

Examples

• The boxer coldcocked his opponent with a powerful right hook in the second round.
• He was coldcocked by a punch he never saw coming.
• The security guard coldcocked the intruder before he could cause any harm.
• In the movie, the hero coldcocked the villain and tied him up.
• She coldcocked him with her purse when he tried to grab her bag.