Where does “gallows” come from?

Gallows derives from Middle English galwes, from Old English ġealga, from Proto-Germanic galgô, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰalgʰ-, of uncertain ultimate origin and meaning.

gallows (English): Wooden framework on which persons are put to...

Definitions

  1. Wooden framework on which persons are put to...

Ancestry of “gallows”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgalwesgallows
2Old Englishgalga—
3Frankishgalgōmeasuring rod, pole; gallows
4Proto-Germanicgalgôa rod, pole, stake; a beam, cross-beam, rafter; a...
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanǵʰAlgʰ-—

Words derived from “gallows”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰAlgʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic galgô →Every word from Frankish galgō →