tar and feathers
Colonial public shaming
Tar and feathers was a form of public humiliation and punishment in which a person was coated with hot tar and then covered with feathers.
Popular in colonial America and frontier justice, it served as mob punishment for perceived wrongdoers—tax collectors, loyalists, or anyone who violated community standards.
The phrase persists figuratively: They'll tar and feather me if I show up late again.
To be tarred and feathered now means to be publicly shamed or harshly criticized.
- angry mobHostile crowd seeking retribution
- mobDisorderly, aggressive crowd
- mob ruleDominance by unruly crowds
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- humiliationLoss of dignity
public shaming · colonial · colonial America · vigilante · frontier justice · run out of town · sticky · black · hot · boiling hot · plucked · revenge · crowd · public · outcast · shame · coating · bucket
- shaming devicespillory, stocks, ducking stool, scarlet letter, dunce cap
- feudal punishmenthanging, flogging, whipping, pillory, dungeon
- punishmentsjail, prison, timeout, grounded, fine
- shame symbolsscarlet letter, dunce cap, pillory, stockade, yellow star
- military punishmentsflogging, lashing, whipping, court-martial, brig
- rough musicshivaree, rough music, pot banging
tar and feathersdue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
fair trial · rule of law · habeas corpus · constitutional protection · court ruling
tar and feathersticker-tape parade
Celebratory march through falling paper
hero's welcome · key to the city · standing ovation · civic celebration · laurel wreath
tar and feathersgentle care
Soft, considerate treatment
spa treatment · pampering · healing touch · comfort · soothing balm
feather, tars, tarred, tarring, tarry, feathers, feathered, feathering, feathery