PILLORY

pillory

(noun) a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn

savage, blast, pillory, crucify

(verb) criticize harshly or violently; “The press savaged the new President”; “The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage”

pillory

(verb) punish by putting in a pillory

pillory, gibbet

(verb) expose to ridicule or public scorn

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

pillory (plural pillories)

A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.

Verb

pillory (third-person singular simple present pillories, present participle pillorying, simple past and past participle pilloried)

(transitive) To put in a pillory.

(transitive) To subject to humiliation, scorn, ridicule or abuse.

(transitive) To criticize harshly.

Source: Wiktionary

Pil"lo*ry, n.; pl. Pillories. Etym: [F. pilori; cf. Pr. espitlori, LL. piloricum, pilloricum, pellericum, pellorium, pilorium, spilorium; perhaps from a derivative of L. speculari to look around, observe. Cf. Speculate.]

Definition: A frame of adjustable boards erected on a post, and having holes through which the head and hands of an offender were thrust so as to be exposed in front of it. Shak.

Pil"lo*ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pilloried; p. pr. & vb. n. Pillorying.] Etym: [Cf. F. pilorier.]

1. To set in, or punish with, the pillory. "Hungering for Puritans to pillory." Macaulay.

2. Figuratively, to expose to public scorn. Gladstone.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition