English
gallows
Gallows comes from Proto-Germanic *galgô ‘a gallows, gibbet’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰalgʰ-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*galgô‘a gallows, gibbet’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*galgōreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150galga
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500galwes
- Englishearliest quotation 1590gallows
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ǵʰalgʰ-reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*galgô‘a gallows, gibbet’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*galgōreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150galga
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500galwes
- Englishearliest quotation 1590gallows
Earliest quotation: 1590, William Shakespeare: “Ay, and a shrewd unhappy gallows too. / You'll…”
The story
The plural construction probably refers to the vertical and horizontal beams. For the pronunciation /ˈɡæləs/, compare bellows, bodice.
Linked words
through Proto-Germanic *galgô ‘a gallows, gibbet’
Today it means
noun A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ- / gallows