pillory English · revision 1317

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɪləɹi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|pilori]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) related to [[la-med|pilorium]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is perhaps from [[la|pīla|t=pillar]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) though the OED finds this phonologically unsuitable.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A wooden frame on a post with holes for the head and hands, used to punish offenders (before 1189 in Anglo-Latin;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) 1275 in English).^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, “to set in the pillory”, dates from about 1600,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) and the figurative sense of exposing someone to public ridicule or abuse from the 1690s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1189 – in Anglo-Latin.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1257–58 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1275 – the pillory.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1600 – verb, to punish in the pillory.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1699 – to expose to public ridicule.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A wooden frame on a post with holes for the head and hands, in which offenders were locked to be exposed to public scorn.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A means of exposing someone to public scorn.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To expose someone to public ridicule or abuse; to criticize harshly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To punish someone in a pillory.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stocks]]

+ * [[pillar]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}