gallow
See also: Gallow
English
Alternative forms
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)
- (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.