Legal Definitions - gallows

Definition: A gallows is a wooden structure made up of two vertical posts and a horizontal beam. It is used to hang criminals who have been sentenced to death by hanging.

Example: In the past, gallows were commonly used as a form of punishment for serious crimes such as murder, treason, and robbery. For example, during the Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s, several accused witches were hanged on the gallows.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the gallows were used as a means of punishment for serious crimes. The accused witches were sentenced to death by hanging and were executed on the gallows. The structure of the gallows, with its two vertical posts and horizontal beam, allowed for the rope to be tied around the neck of the condemned criminal and for them to be lifted off the ground, resulting in death by hanging.