gibbet

1 of 2

noun

gib·​bet ˈji-bət How to pronounce gibbet (audio)
1
2
: an upright post with a projecting arm for hanging the bodies of executed criminals as a warning

gibbet

2 of 2

verb

gibbeted; gibbeting; gibbets

transitive verb

1
a
: to expose to infamy or public scorn
b
: to hang on a gibbet
2
: to execute by hanging on a gibbet

Examples of gibbet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Once again there are gibbet cages and skull racks on display at Tyburn, but the medieval barbarity is compounded by entirely modern displays of wealth and power, their effects felt all the way up and down the social scale. Tom Shippey, WSJ, 14 Jan. 2022 Over 1,000 angry citizens rampaged the city; within days, hundreds were arrested and more than a dozen were executed, their bodies displayed on gibbets. Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, 1 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gibet, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gibbet was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near gibbet

Cite this Entry

“Gibbet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gibbet. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gibbet

noun
gib·​bet
ˈjib-ət

More from Merriam-Webster on gibbet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!