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Pillory
Definitions
- 1 A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.
"Maires and Maceris that meanes be betwene / The Kynge and the comon to kepe the lawes / To pũnyſhen on pyleries and pynning ſtoles / Bruſterrs and bakeſters, bochers and cokes / For theſe ar mẽ on this mold þᵉ moſt harme worketh / To the pore people that percel mele byghe[...]"
- 2 a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn wordnet
- 1 To put in a pillory. transitive
- 2 criticize harshly or violently wordnet
- 3 To subject to humiliation, scorn, ridicule or abuse. transitive
"Mike Sarne would end up making a celluloid disasterpiece that is to this day pilloried as one of the worst films ever made."
- 4 punish by putting in a pillory wordnet
- 5 To criticize harshly. transitive
"The breakthrough came through Torres who, pilloried for his miss against Manchester United a week earlier, scored his second goal of the season."
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- 6 expose to ridicule or public scorn wordnet
Etymology
From Middle English pilory, pillorie, from Old French pilori, pellori, which is either from Old Occitan espilori or Latin pīla (“pillar”).
From Middle English pilory, pillorie, from Old French pilori, pellori, which is either from Old Occitan espilori or Latin pīla (“pillar”).
See also for "pillory"
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