Gallows

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: gal=lows

CIDE DICTIONARY

Gallows, n. sing. [OE. galwes, pl., AS. galga, gealga, gallows, cross; akin to D. galg gallows, OS. & OHG. galgo, G. galgen, Icel. gālgi, Sw. & Dan. galge, Goth. galga a cross. Etymologically and historically considered, gallows is a noun in the plural number, but it is used as a singular, and hence is preceded by a; as, a gallows.].

•  A frame from which is suspended the rope with which criminals are executed by hanging, usually consisting of two upright posts and a crossbeam on the top; also, a like frame for suspending anything.  [1913 Webster]

  "So they hanged Haman on the gallows."  [1913 Webster]

  "If I hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows."  [1913 Webster]

  "O, there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses!"  [1913 Webster]
•  A wretch who deserves the gallows.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  The rest for the tympan when raised.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pair of suspenders or braces.  [1913 Webster]

  " At length him nailéd on a gallow tree."  [1913 Webster]

Gallows bird, a person who deserves the gallows. [Colloq.] -- Gallows bitts (Naut.), one of two or more frames amidships on deck for supporting spare spars; -- called also gallows, gallows top, gallows frame, etc. -- Gallows frame. (a) The frame supporting the beam of an engine. (b) (Naut.) Gallows bitts. -- Gallows tree, or Gallow tree, the gallows.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Gallows, n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.)
1 a structure, usu. of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals.
2 (prec. by the) execution by hanging.

Idiom

gallows humour grim and ironical humour.

Etymology

ME f. ON g{aacute}lgi

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Gallows

n. A stage for the performance of miracle plays, in which the leading actor is translated to heaven. In this country the gallows is chiefly remarkable for the number of persons who escape it.

Whether on the gallows high
Or where blood flows the reddest,
The noblest place for man to die --
Is where he died the deadest.
(Old play)

THESAURUS

Gallows

ax, beheading, block, burning, capital punishment, cross, crucifixion, death chair, death chamber, decapitation, decollation, defenestration, drop, electric chair, electrocution, execution, fusillade, gallows-tree, garrote, gas chamber, gassing, gibbet, guillotine, halter, hanging, hemlock, hemp, hempen collar, hot seat, judicial murder, lapidation, lethal chamber, maiden, necktie party, noose, poisoning, rope, scaffold, shooting, stake, stoning, strangling, strangulation, the ax, the block, the chair, the gallows, the gas chamber, the guillotine, the hot seat, the rope, tree

ROGET THESAURUS

Gallows

Scourge

N scourge, rod, cane, stick, ratan, rattan, birch, birch rod, azote, blacksnake, bullwhack, chicote, kurbash, quirt, rawhide, sjambok, rod in pickle, switch, ferule, cudgel, truncheon, whip, bullwhip, lash, strap, thong, cowhide, knout, cat, cat o'nine tails, rope's end, pillory, stocks, whipping post, cucking stool, ducking stool, brank, trebuchet, trebuket, triangle, wooden horse, iron maiden, thumbscrew, boot, rack, wheel, iron heel, chinese water torture, treadmill, crank, galleys, scaffold, block, ax, guillotine, stake, cross, gallows, gibbet, tree, drop, noose, rope, halter, bowstring, death chair, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, firing squad, mecate, house of correction, goaler, jailer, executioner, electrocutioner, lyncher, hangman, headsman, Jack Ketch.

Killing

N killing, homicide, manslaughter, murder, assassination, trucidation, iccusion, effusion of blood, blood, blood shed, gore, slaughter, carnage, butchery, battue, massacre, fusillade, noyade, thuggery, Thuggism, deathblow, finishing stroke, coup de grace, quietus, execution, judicial murder, martyrdom, butcher, slayer, murderer, Cain, assassin, terrorist, cutthroat, garroter, bravo, Thug, Moloch, matador, sabreur, guet-a-pens, gallows, executioner, man-eater, apache, hatchet man, highbinder, regicide, parricide, matricide, fratricide, infanticide, feticide, foeticide, uxoricide, vaticide, suicide, felo de se, hara-kiri, suttee, Juggernath, immolation, auto da fe, holocaust, suffocation, strangulation, garrote, hanging, lapidation, deadly weapon, Aceldama, slaughtering, phthisozoics, sport, sporting, the chase, venery, hunting, coursing, shooting, fishing, pig- sticking, sportsman, huntsman, fisherman, hunter, Nimrod, slaughterhouse, meat packing plant, shambles, abattoir, fatal accident, violent death, casualty, killing, murderous, slaughterous, sanguinary, sanguinolent, blood stained, blood thirsty, homicidal, red handed, bloody, bloody minded, ensanguined, gory, thuggish, mortal, fatal, lethal, dead, deadly, mortiferous, lethiferous, unhealthy internecine, suicidal, sporting, piscatorial, piscatory, in at the death, assassination has never changed the history of the.