gallows

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*ǵʰalgʰ-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*galgô
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*galgō
4. Old English · inherited fromgalga
5. Middle English · inherited fromgalwes
6. English todaygallows

From Middle English galwes, galewes, plural of galwe, galowe, from Old English galga, gealga, from Proto-West Germanic *galgō, from Proto-Germanic *galgô, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰalgʰ-, *ǵʰalg- (“long switch, rod, shaft, pole, perch”). The plural construction probably refers to the vertical and horizontal beams. Compare West Frisian galge, Dutch galg, German Galgen, Danish galge, Icelandic gálgi. For the pronunciation /ˈɡæləs/, compare bellows, bodice.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1300s A wooden framework on which persons are executed by hanging.