gallows

noun

1. A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.

   “Near-synonym: gibbet”

   “No, Sir, 'tis fear of Hanging. Who would not ſteal, or do Murder, every time his Fingers itch'd at it, were it not for fear of the Gallows?”

2. (colloquial, obsolete)A wretch who deserves to be hanged.

   “Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. / You'll ne'er be friends with him: a' kill'd your sister.”

3. (obsolete)The rest for the tympan when raised.
4. (colloquial, obsolete)Suspenders; braces.

   “The last pair of "gallowses" made by Mr. Gratacap was an order from Mr. Brokaw, the clothier.”

5. Any contrivance with posts and crossbeam for suspending objects.

   “Lit by the moonlight through the window, he can see a FIGURE in the hospital bed alone in the room, and under a transparent oxygen tent. […] Tubes hang from a steel gallows beside the bed, and run to his nose and mouth.”

6. The main frame of a beam engine.
7. (form-of, plural)plural of gallow glyph; a specialized, ornate character that appears frequently in the Voynich Manuscript.

adv

1. (archaic, colloquial, not-comparable)Utterly; very.

   “They've got a gallows bad reputation, but you know what a place the beach is for talking.”

verb

1. (form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person)third-person singular simple present indicative of gallow

name

1. (form-of, plural)plural of Gallow