GALLOWS

I. noun (plural ~ or ~es) Etymology: Middle English galwes, plural of galwe, from Old English galga, gealga; akin to Old Norse gelgja pole, stake, Armenian jałk twig Date: before 12th century 1. a frame usually of two upright posts and a transverse beam from which criminals are hanged, the punishment of hanging, a structure consisting of an upright frame with a crosspiece, suspender 2a, II. adjective Date: 15th century deserving the ~