[gal.lows] n, pl gallows or gal.lows.es [ME galwes, pl. of galwe, fr. OE gealga; akin to ON gelgja pole, stake, Arm jalk twig] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a frame usu. of two upright posts and a crossbeam from which criminals are hanged--called also gallows tree b: the punishment of hanging
2: a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece
3: suspender 2a
[2]gallows adj (15c): deserving the gallows