Legal Definitions - hanged, drawn, and quartered

Definition: Hanged, drawn, and quartered is an ancient sentence for high treason. It involves the prisoner being drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, hanged by the neck (but not until dead), disemboweled, and beheaded. The body is then divided into four pieces for the king's disposal. The sentence was abolished in England in 1870.

Example: In the past, if someone committed high treason, they could be sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. This means that they would be dragged on a wooden frame to the place of execution, hanged by the neck but not until dead, disemboweled, and beheaded. Their body would then be cut into four pieces and displayed for the king's pleasure.

This punishment was considered one of the most brutal and inhumane forms of execution. It was reserved for those who committed the most serious crime of high treason, which involved attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which one owes allegiance, either by making war against the state or by materially supporting its enemies.