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Gibbeting: meaning, definitions and examples

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gibbeting

 

[ ˈɡɪb.ɪ.tɪŋ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

punishment method

Gibbeting refers to the act of hanging a criminal's body in a cage or a gibbet as a form of public punishment or deterrence. It was historically used in various cultures as a means to display the consequences of crime, serving both punitive and educational purposes.

Synonyms

display, exhibition, hanging

Examples of usage

  • The thieves faced gibbeting as a consequence for their crimes.
  • In the past, gibbeting was a common sight in towns as a warning to others.
  • Gibbeting's gruesome displays were meant to deter potential criminals.
Context #2 | Verb

to execute publicly

To gibbet means to hang a body in a gibbet for public view, typically as a punishment against crime. This act served not only to punish the individual but also to instill fear in the community.

Synonyms

display, execute, hang

Examples of usage

  • The authorities decided to gibbet the executed criminals.
  • They gibbeted the body to serve as a warning.
  • Historically, many convicts were gibbeted for their deeds.

Translations

Translations of the word "gibbeting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exibição de corpos

🇮🇳 लटकाना

🇩🇪 Hängen

🇮🇩 penjajahan

🇺🇦 вивішування

🇵🇱 wieszanie

🇯🇵 吊るすこと

🇫🇷 pendaison

🇪🇸 ahorcamiento

🇹🇷 asarak

🇰🇷 교수형

🇸🇦 الإعدام

🇨🇿 věšení

🇸🇰 vešanie

🇨🇳 绞刑

🇸🇮 obesitev

🇮🇸 hanging

🇰🇿 асу-салу

🇬🇪 გახვევა

🇦🇿 asmanın

🇲🇽 ahorcamiento

Word origin

The term 'gibbeting' originates from the word 'gibbet,' which came from the Old French word 'gibet,' meaning 'a noose or a gallows,' itself derived from the Latin 'cibatus,' meaning 'to hang.' Gibbeting became associated with the English legal system in the late medieval period, where public executions were common. During this time, displaying the bodies of executed criminals was seen as a means of maintaining public order, deterring potential lawbreakers, and reinforcing the authority of the law. The practice persisted into the 18th and 19th centuries, often being used for particularly heinous crimes. By the 19th century, gibbeting began to fall out of favor as public attitudes toward punishment evolved, leading to more humane forms of justice.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #42,517, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.