Show Search Results Show Browse

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gallow(i)s, Gallous, n. Also: gallowes, -owus, gallowse, -ouse, galows, -ous(e, gallus, gallos, -ois, gaillous, -ois. [e.m.E. gallowes, gallous, ME. galewes, galwes (c 1300), OE. galᵹan, pl. of galᵹa Gallow. The spellings gall-, galhous, also occur in Eng. in the 15–16th cent.]

1. A gallows for hanging persons. Also attrib.(a) 14.. Acts I. 7/2.
Al barounis the quhilkis hes galowys and pyt of thyft alsua sal haf galowys of slachter of men
1492 Myll Spect. 291/12.
He fand the theif stollyn of the gallowis
a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 413.
A stark gallowis, ane wedy, and a pyn
1529 Lynd. Complaynt 386.
Oppressioun and all his fallowis Ar hangit heych apon the gallowis
1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 201.
Thir personis … wes tane to the gallowes and gat thair lyves
1641 Spalding II. 4.
The hangman brak his suord betuixt the crossis of Abirdein, and betuixt the gallowis-tramis standing thair
(b) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1757.
Than gert he … be wroucht The heyast gallows that man mycht se
1492 Myll Spect. 290/26.
The schiref behuffit allan to walk … that he ware nocht stollyn of the gallows
1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 239.
Gevin to twa wrychts for beitment maid to the gallows in the Borrow Muir
1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 480.
To caus red the rowme of the awld gallows, baynes, deid corssis and all
(c) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3875 (C).
A hie galousse [W. gallous] thai made … in dispyte and fellony
1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 2.
On the west sid of the toun, … passand down to the galous
a1500 S. Sages 368.
He gart four tormentouris him leid Vnto the gallous
1537 Crim. Trials I. i. 185.
The said Johne … sall be harlit and drawin throw the cassay of Edinburcht, and hangit on the gallouse to the deid
1569-73 Bann. Memor. 304.
Sen the tyme thai wer condemptnit to the gaillous
Ib. 338.
Makand his repentence at the gallouse fute
1611-57 Mure Sonn. xii. 3.
Of paine to come the gallouse is but arles
1623 Black Bk. Taymouth 378.
To be hangit be his craig upon ane gibet or gallous
(d) 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 191.
That he sould be hangit on ane gallus
1521 Ib. 217.
That … Thomas suld be haid bundyne to the gallos
1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 276.
Ane lok to the gallois dure
c1500 Roule Cursing 96 (M).
The dewill thair saulis, thair cragis the gallois
1570-3 Bann. Trans. 453.
Sen the tyme they were condempnit to the gaillois
(e) a1500 Seven S. 2238.
The empriour bad To the gallhous his son be led
c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxxv. 23.
Fast for thame the galhous cryis
1588 Digest Justiciary Proc. L. 62.
The Justice ordanit him to be hanged on the galhous on the borrow muir

b. In pl. gallous(s)is. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 158.
Sa mony hang vpone gallousis naikit
1616 Crim. Trials III. 587.
The treyis, gibbettis, and galloussis of all the cuntrie

2. a. An iron device for suspending a pot over a fire. 1542 Acts & Decr. (MS.) I. 141.
Ane chimnay branderit with hingand gallowis of xviij stane
1584 Edinb. Test. XIII. 191 b.
Ane irne chymnay with the gallous, raxis, tayngis & speittis
1624 M. Works Acc. XVII. 4.
Ane great irne brais with gallous and cruikis … for my lord Erskynes kitching
1649 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 538.
The gallows and cruicks quhilk ar upon the chimney for the kitchin
1661 Brechin Test. VI. 205 b.
Tuo iron chimnies, ane galous

b. A support for a well-bucket. 1591 Edinb. Dean Guild Acc. 460.
To ane wrycht … making the gallous of the well xj s. iiij d.

c. Attrib. with brydill bit. 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 281 b.
Ane greit gallous brydill bit xxxiij s.

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Gallows n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gallowis>

15693

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: