gallows tree

Meaning

A tree used as a gallows, a tree from which people are hanged (killed by hanging).

Synonyms

gallows-tree

gibbet

gallous

gallows

Translations

échafaud

gibet

potence

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: galowetre

Inherited from Old English: gealgtrēow

Cognate with Danish: galgetræ

Cognate with Swedish: galgträd

Cognate with Norwegian: galgetre

Cognate with Icelandic: gálgatré

Cognate with Western Frisian: galgebeam

Cognate with German: Galgenbaum

In summary

From earlier gallow tree, from Middle English galowetre, galwe tree, from Old English gealgtrēow, equivalent to gallows + tree. Cognate with Danish galgetræ, Swedish galgträd, Norwegian galgetre, Icelandic gálgatré. Compare also West Frisian galgebeam, German Galgenbaum.