gallowses

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

“gallowses” is listed under Gallows.

Origin: OE. galwes, pl., AS. galga, gealga, gallows, cross; akin to D. galg gallows, OS. & OHG. galgo, G. galgen, Icel. gālgi, Sw. & Dan. galge, Goth. galga a cross. Etymologically and historically considered, gallows is a noun in the plural number, but it is used as a singular, and hence is preceded by a; as, a gallows.

1. A frame from which is suspended the rope with which criminals are executed by hanging, usually consisting of two upright posts and a crossbeam on the top; also, a like frame for suspending anything.

So they hanged Haman on the gallows.— Esther vii. 10.

If I hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows.— William Shakespeare

O, there were desolation of gaolers and gallowses!— William Shakespeare

2. A wretch who deserves the gallows. rare William Shakespeare

3. Printing The rest for the tympan when raised.

4. pl. A pair of suspenders or braces. colloquial

Gallows bird, a person who deserves the gallows. colloquial — Gallows bitts Nautical, one of two or more frames amidships on deck for supporting spare spars; — called also gallows, gallows top, gallows frame, etc. — Gallows frame. (a) The frame supporting the beam of an engine. (b) Nautical Gallows bitts. — Gallows tree, or Gallow tree, the gallows.

At length him nailéd on a gallow tree.— Edmund Spenser

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54