gallow en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈɡæləʊ/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle English *galowen, *galewen, *galwen (attested in begalewen (“to frighten”)), from Old English *gǣlwan, *gēlwan (attested in āgǣlwed, āgēlwed (“stupified, astonished, disconcerted”)), of unknown origin. Alternative forms gally, galley perhaps influenced by Middle English galyen, galien, variants of galen (“to cry out, shout, make a harsh cry”), from Old English galan (“to sing, call”). Compare also Old Norse gala (“to sing, shout, crow”), Old Norse gjalla (“to yell, shout”).
Meanings
-
(dialectal, transitive) To frighten, alarm, scare, or terrify.
The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.
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]:
- (dialectal, transitive) To drive or scare away.
- (dialectal, transitive) To confuse with noise.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gallows | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| gally | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic | |
| galler | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic | |
| gallowed | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| gallowed | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| gallowing | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| gall | alternative, dialectal | lexicographic | |
| galley | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |