squassation

[ skwo-sey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a form of strappado in which the victim, with arms bound behind and feet heavily weighted, was jerked up and down at the end of a rope passed under the arms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of squassation¹

1725–35; < Italian squass ( are ) to shake severely (< Vulgar Latin *exquassāre; squash ¹ ) + -ation