Gibbet
//ˈd͡ʒɪbɪt// noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An upright post with a crosspiece used for execution and subsequent public display.
"Near-synonym: gallows"
- 2 alternative terms for gallows wordnet
- 3 The projecting arm of a crane, from which the load is suspended.
- 4 A human-shaped structure made of iron bands designed to publicly display the corpse of an executed criminal.
Verb
- 1 To execute (someone), or display (a body), on a gibbet. transitive
- 2 expose to ridicule or public scorn wordnet
- 3 To expose (someone) to ridicule or scorn. transitive
- 4 hang on an execution instrument wordnet
Example
More examples"The third day after this was the birthday of Pharaoh: and he made a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief butler, and the chief baker. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be shewn."
Etymology
From Middle English gibet, from Old French gibet (French gibet), either from Frankish *gibb (“forked stick”) or from Latin gibbus (“hunchbacked”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.