Gallows

6 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Gallows \Gal"lows\, n. sing.; pl. {Gallowses}or {Gallows}. [OE.
     galwes, pl., AS. galga, gealga, gallows, cross; akin to D.
     galg gallows, OS. & OHG. galgo, G. galgen, Icel. g[=a]lgi,
     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.]
     1. 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.
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              So they hanged Haman on the gallows.  --Esther vii.
                                                    10.
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              If I hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows. --Shak.
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              O, there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses!
                                                    --Shak.
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     2. A wretch who deserves the gallows. [R.] --Shak.
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     3. (Print.) The rest for the tympan when raised.
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     4. pl. A pair of suspenders or braces. [Colloq.]
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     {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.
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              At length him nail['e]d on a gallow tree. --Spenser.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  gallows
       n : instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from
           which condemned persons are executed by hanging [syn: {gallows
           tree}, {gallows-tree}, {gibbet}, {gallous}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  52 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Gallows
     Heb. 'ets, meaning "a tree" (Esther 6:4), a post or gibbet. In
     Gen. 40:19 and Deut. 21:22 the word is rendered "tree."
     

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  GALLOWS. An erection on which to bang criminals condemned to death. 
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  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)