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