gallow
noun1
Abbreviation, Ellipsis Ellipsis of gallow glyph.
gallow
verb/ˈɡæləʊ/
Etymology From Middle English *galowen, *galewen, *galwen (attested in begalewen (“to frighten”)), from Old English *gǣlwan, *gēlwan (attested in āgǣlwed, āgēlwed (“stupified, astonished, disconcerted”)), of unknown origin. Alternative forms gally, galley perhaps influenced by Middle English galyen, galien, variants of galen (“to cry out, shout, make a harsh cry”), from Old English galan (“to sing, call”). Compare also Old Norse gala (“to sing, shout, crow”), Old Norse gjalla (“to yell, shout”).
1
Dialectal To frighten, alarm, scare, or terrify.
- The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
2
Dialectal To drive or scare away.
3
Dialectal To confuse with noise.