gibbet

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈdʒɪbɪt/ UK /ˈdʒɪbɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #70258

Meanings

1

noun
historical: a gallows or similar framework used to hang a person or display an executed person's body

The old map marked the hill where a gibbet once stood beside the road.
2

verb
historical: to execute by hanging or to hang a body on a gibbet for public display

The authorities threatened to gibbet convicted pirates at the harbor entrance.
3

verb
to expose someone to public contempt or ridicule

The pamphlet gibbeted corrupt officials before the reading public.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · historical: a gallows or... gallows scaffold

2 verb · historical: to execute by... hang execute

3 verb · to expose someone to public... pillory denounce vilify

Opposites

vindicate honor

Word family

Derived forms gibbetlike

Related forms gallows execution pillory

Etymology

From Middle English gibet and Old French gibet. Its deeper origin is uncertain; proposals connect it with a Germanic word for a forked stick or with Latin gibbus ('humped'). The figurative verb extends public bodily display to public disgrace.

Topics

People & Society Register & Style

External links

# gibbet

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈdʒɪbɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈdʒɪbɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 70258

## Meanings
1. historical: a gallows or similar framework used to hang a person or display an executed person's body
2. historical: to execute by hanging or to hang a body on a gibbet for public display
3. to expose someone to public contempt or ridicule

## Examples
- The old map marked the hill where a gibbet once stood beside the road.
- The authorities threatened to gibbet convicted pirates at the harbor entrance.
- The pamphlet gibbeted corrupt officials before the reading public.

## Synonyms
- gallows
- scaffold
- pillory

## Antonyms
- vindicate
- honor

## Derived Forms
- gibbetlike

## Related Forms
- gallows
- execution
- pillory

## Etymology
From Middle English gibet and Old French gibet. Its deeper origin is uncertain; proposals connect it with a Germanic word for a forked stick or with Latin gibbus ('humped'). The figurative verb extends public bodily display to public disgrace.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Register & Style

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