Gibbet: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in historical contexts to refer to a structure where the bodies of executed criminals were displayed as a warning to others. It is often used in literature to evoke a grim or morbid atmosphere.

• The bodies of the pirates were left hanging on the gibbet as a warning to would-be criminals.
• In the eerie moonlight, the silhouette of the ancient gibbet stood as a reminder of past justice.

Commonly used in both historical and modern contexts to describe the frame, usually made of two upright posts and a crossbeam, from which people are hanged. This word has a very strong negative connotation as it directly relates to execution by hanging.

• The prisoner took his last steps towards the gallows with a heavy heart.
• In many old towns, a visit to the gallows was the last sight for many condemned souls.

Used in literature or historical texts, 'gallows-tree' is a more poetic or archaic term for the gallows. It conveys a somber or eerie mood, often employed in gothic or macabre settings.

• The legend spoke of the haunted gallows-tree where countless souls had met their end.
• She shuddered at the sight of the old gallows-tree, remembering the grim tales her grandmother used to tell.

This term is less common and specifically denotes the single post structure used for hanging. It's often utilized in more technical descriptions or in historical reenactments.

• The reconstructed hanging post gave visitors a sobering insight into medieval justice.
• The old documents described the precise dimensions of the hanging post used in the colonial settlement.