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Simple English definitions for legal terms
gallows
Read a random definition: rendition warrant
A quick definition of gallows:
A gallows is a structure made of wood with two tall posts and a beam that connects them. It is used to hang people who have been found guilty of a crime. The person is tied with a rope and then the rope is attached to the beam. When the rope is pulled, the person falls and dies. It is a very serious and scary thing.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A gallows is a wooden structure made up of two vertical posts and a horizontal beam. It is used to hang criminals who have been sentenced to death by hanging.
Example: In the past, gallows were commonly used as a form of punishment for serious crimes such as murder, treason, and robbery. For example, during the Salem Witch Trials in the late 1600s, several accused witches were hanged on the gallows.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the gallows were used as a means of punishment for serious crimes. The accused witches were sentenced to death by hanging and were executed on the gallows. The structure of the gallows, with its two vertical posts and horizontal beam, allowed for the rope to be tied around the neck of the condemned criminal and for them to be lifted off the ground, resulting in death by hanging.