Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
Gibraltar
Gibraltar board
Gibraltar, Rock of
Gibraltar, Strait of
Gibson Desert
Gibson girl
GIC
gid
giddap
giddy
giddyup
gidgee
gie
GIF
gif
Giffen goods
GIFT
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

gibbet

gib·bet [ jíbbit ]


noun  (plural gib·bets)
Definition:
 
1. hanging post: an upright post with a beam projecting horizontally from its top, from which the bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display

2. crime 
Same as  gallows (sense 1)




transitive verb  (past and past participle gib·bet·ed, present participle gib·bet·ing, 3rd person present singular gib·bets)
Definition:
 
1. display body after execution: to display the body of a criminal on a gibbet after execution

2. hang somebody: to execute somebody by hanging ( archaic )

3. attack somebody's reputation: to expose somebody to ridicule or contempt, especially in popular publications ( archaic )

[12th century. < Old French gibet "staff, gallows" < gibe "staff"]
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft