bastinado

[ bas-tuh-ney-doh, -nah-doh ]

noun

, plural bas·ti·na·does.

1. a mode of punishment consisting of blows with a stick on the soles of the feet or on the buttocks.
2. a blow or a beating with a stick, cudgel, etc.
3. a stick or cudgel.

verb (used with object)

, bas·ti·na·doed, bas·ti·na·do·ing.

1. to beat with a stick, cane, etc., especially on the soles of the feet or on the buttocks.

bastinado

/ ˌbæstɪˈneɪdəʊ /

noun

1. punishment or torture in which the soles of the feet are beaten with a stick
2. a blow or beating with a stick
3. a stick; cudgel

verb

1. to beat (a person) on the soles of the feet

Other Words From

• unbas·ti·nadoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastinado¹

1570–80; earlier bastanado < Spanish bastonada ( bastón stick ( baton ) + -ada -ade ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastinado¹

C16: from Spanish bastonada , from baston stick, from Late Latin bastum see baton

Example Sentences

We had, also, to reckon with the new danger that bastinado floggings might persuade the Greek into betraying us.

From Project Gutenberg

He decreed the estate to the cousin, and consoled the other for his loss by inflicting the bastinado.

From Project Gutenberg

Signor me no signors, nor casa me no casas: but get you hence, or you are like to taste of the bastinado.

From Project Gutenberg

And we saw a Turkish soldier punished with the bastinado,—a sight which did not do me any good, and which made Smith very sick.

From Project Gutenberg

Will not that trumpery colonel make up his mind to start soon, if he is so ready to give the bastinado to poor folk?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• nightstick
• truncheon