Legal Definitions - wheel

Definition: A historical instrument of torture used in medieval Europe. It consisted of a wheel or cross on which a criminal was bound with their arms and legs extended. An iron bar was used to break the criminal's bones one by one, often until death. The torture itself is also referred to as "the wheel".

Example: In the 14th century, a man was sentenced to be put on the wheel for stealing bread. He was bound to the wheel and his limbs were broken one by one until he died.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the wheel was used as an instrument of torture in medieval Europe. The man's punishment for stealing bread was to be put on the wheel, where his bones were broken until he died. This was a cruel and inhumane form of punishment that was used to deter others from committing crimes.