Meaning of PILLORY
| Pronunciation: | | 'piluree
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [n] a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the neck and hands; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn
- [v] criticize harshly or violently; "The press savaged the new President"; "The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage"
- [v] punish by putting in a pillory
- [v] expose to ridicule or public scorn
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| | Synonyms: | | crucify, gibbet, savage, stocks |
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| | See Also: | | criticise, criticize, display, exhibit, expose, instrument of punishment, penalise, penalize, pick apart, punish | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
\Pil"lo*ry\, n.; pl. {Pillories}. [F. pilori; cf. Pr.
espitlori, LL. piloricum, pilloricum, pellericum, pellorium,
pilorium, spilorium; perhaps from a derivative of L.
speculari to look around, observe. Cf. {Speculate}.]
A frame of adjustable boards erected on a post, and having
holes through which the head and hands of an offender were
thrust so as to be exposed in front of it. --Shak.
\Pil"lo*ry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pilloried}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Pillorying}.] [Cf. F. pilorier.]
1. To set in, or punish with, the pillory. ``Hungering for
Puritans to pillory.'' --Macaulay.
2. Figuratively, to expose to public scorn. --Gladstone.
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | attaint, bespatter, bilbo, blacken, blot, blow upon, bond, bonds, brand, branks, bridle, bring into discredit, bring low, bring shame upon, bring to account, bring to book, call to account, camisole, cast reproach upon, castigate, censure, chains, chasten, chastise, collar, correct, crank, cucking stool, cuffs, deal with, debase, defame, defile, defrock, degrade, deplume, deride, disapprove, discipline, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, displume, ducking stool, expose, expose to infamy, fetter, finger pillory, gag, gibbet, grin at, gyves, halter, hamper, handcuffs, hang in effigy, hobbles, hold in derision, hopples, humiliate, impute shame to, inflict upon, irons, laugh at, laugh to scorn, leading strings, leash, make fun of, make game of, make merry with, manacle, masthead, muzzle, Oregon boat, pan, penalize, point at, poke fun at, punish, put one on, put to shame, rag, razz, reflect discredit upon, reins, reprimand, reproach, restraint, restraints, ride, ridicule, roast, settle with, shackle, shame, slur, smear, smile at, snicker at, snigger at, soil, square accounts, stain, stigmatize, stocks, straightjacket, straitjacket, strait-waistcoat, stranglehold, sully, taint, take to task, tarnish, tether, trammel, trammels, treadmill, trebuchet, triangle, triangles, unfrock, vilify, visit upon, whipping post, wooden horse, yoke |
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