gallows tree en · NOUN
Etymology
From earlier gallow tree, from Middle English galowetre, galwe tree, from Old English gealgtrēow, equivalent to gallows + tree. Cognate with Danish galgetræ, Swedish galgträd, Norwegian galgetre, Icelandic gálgatré. Compare also West Frisian galgebeam, German Galgenbaum.
Meanings
- A tree used as a gallows, a tree from which people are hanged (killed by hanging).
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gallow tree | alternative | lexicographic | |
| gallows trees | Number=Plur | lexicographic |