gallows tree

American  

Or gallow tree

noun

1. a gallows.

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gallows tree British  

noun

1. another name for gallows

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Etymology

Origin of gallows tree

before 900; Middle English galwe tree, Old English galgtrēow, equivalent to galg ( a ) gallows + trēow tree

Example Sentences

Said Offerus, "Methinks you are afraid of those gallows trees," and, drawing his bow, he shot an arrow into the middle cross.

From Project Gutenberg

Aroused by this to forget her own sufferings, even to forget for the moment the dreadful burden borne by the gallows tree, she thrust out her hand and seized his sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

If once it bore, instead of its own sweetly wholesome produce, that debased fruit of the gallows tree, its dignity would be forever broken!

From Project Gutenberg

Those that survived from the jailing betook themselves to the road, and became sturdy beggars, so that many of them too came to the gallows tree.

From Project Gutenberg

On one occasion," he tells me, "Punch suspended me, pictorially of course, from a gallows tree.

From Project Gutenberg