gallows
n.a wooden frame used in the past for hanging criminals. It usually consists of two upright posts and a crossbeam at the top.
n.a wooden structure, typically consisting of two upright posts and a crossbeam, used for the execution of condemned persons by hanging.
“The prisoner walked slowly toward the gallows.”
“In many historical dramas, the gallows stands as a grim symbol of the harsh justice system of the era.”
“The structure of the gallows was visible from the town square, serving as a deterrent to those who might consider defying the local laws.”
Takes a singular or plural verb ('the gallows is' or 'the gallows are'). Often used in the phrase 'gallows humour' to describe joking about serious or dark subjects.
“Generous doses of squishy gallows humour, elaborate secrets and expert tension pick up the slack.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.