Gallows vs Halter - What's the difference?
gallows | halter | Synonyms |
Wooden framework on which persons are put to death by hanging.
* {{quote-book
, year = 1728
, chapter = The Atheist, or, the Second Part of the Solider's Fortune
, title = The Works of Mr. Thomas Otway
, volume = 2
, first = Thomas
, last = Otway
, authorlink = Thomas Otway
, location = London
, page = 37
, url = http://books.google.com/books?id=yF1AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA37
, passage = No, Sir, 'tis fear of Hanging. Who would not ?teal, or do Murder, every time his Fingers itch'd at it, were it not for fear of the Gallows ?
}}
(colloquial, obsolete) A wretch who deserves to be hanged.
* 1590 , , V. ii. 12:
(printing, obsolete) The rest for the tympan when raised.
(colloquial, obsolete) suspenders; braces
(gallow)
A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
*, II.12:
*{{quote-book, year=1913, author=
, chapter=4, title= A woman's garment covering the upper chest, a halter top.
To place a halter on.
As nouns the difference between gallows and halter
is that gallows is wooden framework on which persons are put to death by hanging while halter is a bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.As verbs the difference between gallows and halter
is that gallows is third-person singular of gallow while halter is to place a halter on.gallows
English
(wikipedia gallows)Etymology 1
From (etyl) (m), (m), (m), (m), from (etyl) .Noun
(en-noun)- Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. / You'll ne'er be friends with him: a' kill'd your sister.
Synonyms
* gallows tree, gallow tree, hanging tree, gibbetDerived terms
* gallows bird, gallows humor, gallousEtymology 2
Verb
(head)halter
English
(wikipedia halter)Etymology 1
From (etyl) halter, helter, helfter, from (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)- And Crates said, that love was cured with hunger, if not by time; and in him that liked not these two meanes, by the halter .
Lord Stranleigh Abroad, passage=“
Synonyms
* headstall * headpiece * headcollar (British)Verb
- What do you mean, you didn't halter the horses when we stopped for the night?
