gallow

See also: Gallow

English

Alternative forms

• gally

Etymology

From Middle English *galowen (attested in begalewen (“to begallow”)), from Old English *gælwan (attested in āgælwed (“astonished; disconcerted”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡæləʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æləʊ

Verb

gallow (third-person singular simple present gallows, present participle gallowing, simple past and past participle gallowed)

1. (obsolete) To frighten or terrify.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.

See also

• gallow tree
• gallows

Anagrams

• gwolla