A gibbet is a structure used for public execution by hanging. It can refer to:
- A type of gallows: Specifically, a wooden framework consisting of an upright post with a projecting arm (or sometimes two upright posts with a crossbeam) from which condemned persons are hanged.
- A structure for displaying corpses: After execution elsewhere, the bodies of criminals were sometimes hung in chains or cages on a gibbet for public viewing. This practice, known as “hanging in chains” or “gibbeting,” was intended as a deterrent to others. The bodies were often left to decay and serve as a grim warning.
- A verb: To “gibbet” someone means to execute them by hanging on a gibbet or to display their body on such a structure. It can also mean to expose someone to public scorn or ridicule.
