gallows

noun

gal·lows

ˈga-(ˌ)lōz -ləz in sense 3 also -ləs

plural gallows also gallowses

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

or less commonly gallows tree, plural gallows trees a frame usually of two upright posts and a transverse beam from which a noose is suspended and that is used for executions by hanging //… I'll be lucky if they don't whip me to the bone. More likely I'll be hung from the gallows. — Sid Fleischman
the punishment of execution by hanging
a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece //… it's all hands on deck when the captain decides to raise or lower the sail. This is a demanding and dangerous maneuver as the yard and furled sail normally rest on gallows in line with the ship … — Rich Harbert
dated suspender sense 2a

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

deserving the gallows
— see also gallows bird, gallows humor

Examples

Noun

//He was sentenced to death on the gallows.

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun

Middle English galwes, galwes, plural of galwe, going back to Old English galga, gealga, going back to Germanic *galgōn "pole, stake, pole on which a condemned person was hung" (whence Old Saxon galgo "gallows, stake," Old High German galga, galgo, Old Norse galgi, Gothic galga "stake, cross"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ǵholgh-, whence also Lithuanian žalgà "thin stake" and perhaps Armenian jałk

gallows

noun

gal·lows

ˈga-(ˌ)lōz -ləz in sense 3 also -ləs

plural gallows also gallowses

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

or less commonly gallows tree, plural gallows trees a frame usually of two upright posts and a transverse beam from which a noose is suspended and that is used for executions by hanging //… I'll be lucky if they don't whip me to the bone. More likely I'll be hung from the gallows. — Sid Fleischman
the punishment of execution by hanging
a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece //… it's all hands on deck when the captain decides to raise or lower the sail. This is a demanding and dangerous maneuver as the yard and furled sail normally rest on gallows in line with the ship … — Rich Harbert
dated suspender sense 2a

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

deserving the gallows
— see also gallows bird, gallows humor

Examples

Noun

//He was sentenced to death on the gallows.

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun

Middle English galwes, galwes, plural of galwe, going back to Old English galga, gealga, going back to Germanic *galgōn "pole, stake, pole on which a condemned person was hung" (whence Old Saxon galgo "gallows, stake," Old High German galga, galgo, Old Norse galgi, Gothic galga "stake, cross"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ǵholgh-, whence also Lithuanian žalgà "thin stake" and perhaps Armenian jałk

gallows

noun

gal·lows

ˈga-(ˌ)lōz -ləz in sense 3 also -ləs

plural gallows also gallowses

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

or less commonly gallows tree, plural gallows trees a frame usually of two upright posts and a transverse beam from which a noose is suspended and that is used for executions by hanging //… I'll be lucky if they don't whip me to the bone. More likely I'll be hung from the gallows. — Sid Fleischman
the punishment of execution by hanging
a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece //… it's all hands on deck when the captain decides to raise or lower the sail. This is a demanding and dangerous maneuver as the yard and furled sail normally rest on gallows in line with the ship … — Rich Harbert
dated suspender sense 2a

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

deserving the gallows
— see also gallows bird, gallows humor

Examples

Noun

//He was sentenced to death on the gallows.

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun

Middle English galwes, galwes, plural of galwe, going back to Old English galga, gealga, going back to Germanic *galgōn "pole, stake, pole on which a condemned person was hung" (whence Old Saxon galgo "gallows, stake," Old High German galga, galgo, Old Norse galgi, Gothic galga "stake, cross"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ǵholgh-, whence also Lithuanian žalgà "thin stake" and perhaps Armenian jałk

gallows

noun

gal·lows

ˈga-(ˌ)lōz -ləz in sense 3 also -ləs

plural gallows also gallowses

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

or less commonly gallows tree, plural gallows trees a frame usually of two upright posts and a transverse beam from which a noose is suspended and that is used for executions by hanging //… I'll be lucky if they don't whip me to the bone. More likely I'll be hung from the gallows. — Sid Fleischman
the punishment of execution by hanging
a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece //… it's all hands on deck when the captain decides to raise or lower the sail. This is a demanding and dangerous maneuver as the yard and furled sail normally rest on gallows in line with the ship … — Rich Harbert
dated suspender sense 2a

adjective

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

deserving the gallows
— see also gallows bird, gallows humor

Examples

Noun

//He was sentenced to death on the gallows.

First Known Use

Noun

before 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology

Noun

Middle English galwes, galwes, plural of galwe, going back to Old English galga, gealga, going back to Germanic *galgōn "pole, stake, pole on which a condemned person was hung" (whence Old Saxon galgo "gallows, stake," Old High German galga, galgo, Old Norse galgi, Gothic galga "stake, cross"), going back to dialectal Indo-European *ǵholgh-, whence also Lithuanian žalgà "thin stake" and perhaps Armenian jałk