pillory

American  

[pil-uh-ree] / ˈpɪl ə ri /

noun

plural

pillories

1. a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.

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verb (used with object)

pilloried, pillorying

1. to set in the pillory.

2. to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse.

   The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent.

pillory British  

/ ˈpɪlərɪ /

noun

1. a wooden framework into which offenders were formerly locked by the neck and wrists and exposed to public abuse and ridicule

2. exposure to public scorn or abuse

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verb

1. to expose to public scorn or ridicule

2. to punish by putting in a pillory

Other Word Forms

• unpilloried adjective

Etymology

Origin of pillory

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English pyllory, from Old French pilori, perhaps from Medieval Latin pīlōrium, equivalent to Latin pīl(a) “pillar” ( pile ¹ ) + -ōrium noun suffix ( -ory ² ), though Romance variants such as Provençal espillori suggest a less transparent source

Example Sentences

After his idea was pilloried by sources including the Wall Street Journal, Pulte stated in a tweet that it was one of “a wide arsenal of solutions” to housing costs.

From Los Angeles Times

The eight women were convicted under the 1586 Irish Witchcraft Act and sentenced to one year's imprisonment and four stints in the pillory.

From BBC

The question now is whether he, as one of the country’s elder statesmen, will boldly stand up in defense of democracy, or let himself be symbolically pilloried — or worse.

From Salon

That didn’t stop the Energy Department from pillorying the findings.

From Salon

He got pilloried, which was the start of what Jack calls his "massive learning curve".

From BBC