gallows

Meaning

Noun

1. A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.
2. (colloquial, obsolete) A wretch who deserves to be hanged.
3. (obsolete) The rest for the tympan when raised.
4. (colloquial, obsolete) Suspenders; braces.
5. Any contrivance with posts and crossbeam for suspending objects.
6. The main frame of a beam engine.

Adv

Utterly; very.

Verb

third-person singular simple present indicative of gallow

Synonyms

gibbet

scaffold

cross

frame

framing

gallows-bird

gallows-tree

halter

hanging

noose

staging

suspenders

torture chamber

tree

🌳

gallows tree

gallous

gallows frame

boom

💥

structural frame

braces

Translations

Galgen

forca

potence

gibet

horca

patibolo

αγχόνη

forca

κρεμάλα

darağacı

galg

patíbulo

مشنقة

gabalus

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡæləʊz/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: galwes

Inherited from Old English: gealga

Cognate with Western Frisian: galge

Cognate with Dutch: galg

Cognate with German: Galgen

Cognate with Danish: galge

Cognate with Icelandic: gálgi

In summary

From Middle English galwes, galewes, plural of galwe, galowe, from Old English galga, gealga, from Proto-West Germanic *galgō, from Proto-Germanic *galgô, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“long switch, rod, shaft, pole, perch”). The plural construction probably refers to the vertical and horizontal beams.
Compare West Frisian galge, Dutch galg, German Galgen, Danish galge, Icelandic gálgi.
For the pronunciation /ˈɡæləs/, compare bellows, bodice.