ˈgallows-tree
Before 19th c. gallow-; see forms of gallows n.
[OE. galᵹ-tréow, Northumb. galᵹa-tre (= ON. gálga-tré), f. galᵹa gallows + tréow tree.]
1. = gallows n. 1.
| Beowulf 2940 Cwæð he on merᵹenne meces ecgum ᵹetan wolde, sum[e] on galᵹ treowu[m fuᵹlum] to gamene. a 1000 Durham Ritual (Surtees) 23 Ðin rodes galga tre. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 43/300 Heng up-on þe galu-treo. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 4764 Ȝe schul..heye hong on galwe tre. c 1422 Hoccleve Jereslaus' Wife 436 Shee espyde A galwe tree to which men a theef ledde. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlix. 23 In his suppleis On gallow treis Ȝitt dois he glowir. 1600 Holland Livy i. xxvi. (1609) 19 Let them..hang him upon a cursed gallow tree [L. infelici arbori] by a rope. a 1716 South Serm. (1744) X. vii. 231 He that mistakes..the gallow-tree for a triumphal arch. 1748 Thomson Castle Indol. ii. 446 Most like to carcase parched on gallow-tree. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. ii, The fatal day was announced to the public, by the appearance of a huge black gallows-tree. 1878 Masque Poets 97 The gallows-tree was never built for handsome lads like you. |
† 2. = gallows n. 5 a. Cf. gallows-balk.
| 1590 Inv. in Midl. Co. Hist. Coll. II. 31 Item j galowe tree ij Rekyrons. |