Gibbet
/ˈdʒɪb.ɪt/noun
A structure for hanging the bodies of executed criminals as a warning to others.
Did you know?In medieval times, gibbets were often left on display for years, serving as a grim reminder of justice and the consequences of crime.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
Old French
gibet
“A gallows or a structure for hanging.”
12th Century
Middle English
gibet
“A wooden frame for hanging criminals.”
14th Century
English
gibbet
“An apparatus for public execution, often a post from which bodies were displayed.”
Modern English
English
gibbet
“A structure used to display the bodies of executed criminals.”