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Where does the word "gibbet" come from? It comes from Frankish gibet, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "gibbet" come from? It comes from Frankish gibet, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Gibbet’s story begins in Frankish: gibet meant “staff, club.” A Frankish word, possibly for a forked stick. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gibet. A gallows for hanging. It reached English by 1200s as gibbet. Bodies were left on gibbets as warnings. Today, gibbet means a gallows.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient gibet "staff, club", a Frankish word, possibly for a forked stick.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gibet "gallows", a gallows for hanging.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s gibbet "gallows", bodies were left on gibbets as warnings.