pillory
Medieval punishment frame
A pillory is a wooden frame with holes for securing the head and hands, used historically to publicly punish and humiliate offenders.
The condemned stood exposed to ridicule and abuse from passersby.
The verb means to expose someone to public scorn or ridicule: The press pilloried the senator for his hypocrisy.
The figurative sense now dominates—few remember the device itself.
Ownership stakes or inventory
- gibbetExecution display structure
- gallowsExecution hanging apparatus
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- ducking stoolPunishment seat for dunking
torture · executioner · bailiff · heretic · inquisition · whipping post · branding iron · town crier
Large public gathering
- gawkersPeople who stare intrusively
- onlookersPeople observing an event
- jeeringVocal public mockery
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
townspeople · rotten fruit · tomatoes · eggs · pelting · display · exhibition · mockery
Ownership stakes or inventory
- publicAvailable to all
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- offendersThose who commit wrongs
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
colonial · village · square · wooden · shackles · exposure · justice · corporal
Loss of dignity
ignominy · opprobrium · contempt · degradation · abasement · mortification · scandal · disrepute
stocks
Ownership stakes or inventory
- gibbetExecution display structure
- gallowsExecution hanging apparatus
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
ducking stool · torture · executioner · bailiff · heretic · inquisition · whipping post · branding iron · town crier · public penance
crowd
Large public gathering
mob · townspeople · rotten fruit · tomatoes · eggs · pelting · display · exhibition · mockery · ridicule
stocks
Ownership stakes or inventory
- publicAvailable to all
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- offendersThose who commit wrongs
penalty · colonial · village · square · wooden · shackles · exposure · justice · corporal · enforcement
humiliation
Loss of dignity
dishonor · ignominy · opprobrium · contempt · degradation · abasement · mortification · scandal · disrepute · loss of face
denounce
Publicly declare wrongdoing
- condemnDeclare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
castigate · lambaste · excoriate · shame · blame · attack · target · scapegoat · defame · drag
- legal archaismsattainder, escheat, outlawry, livery of seisin, trial by ordeal
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- haunted attractionshaunted house, jump scare, haunted maze, jump scares, strobe light
- medieval itemssword, mace, flail, dagger, crossbow
- Ren fairejousting, knights, mead, turkey legs, jesters