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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gallow(i)s, Gallous, n. Also: gallowes, -owus, gallowse, -ouse, galows, -ous(e, gallus, gallos, -ois, gaillous, -ois. [e.m.E. gallowes, gallous, ME. galewes, galwes (c 1300), OE. galᵹan, pl. of galᵹa Gallow. The spellings gall-, galhous, also occur in Eng. in the 15–16th cent.]

1. A gallows for hanging persons. Also attrib.(a) 14.. Acts I. 7/2.
Al barounis the quhilkis hes galowys and pyt of thyft alsua sal haf galowys of slachter of men 1492 Myll Spect. 291/12.
He fand the theif stollyn of the gallowis a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 413.
A stark gallowis, ane wedy, and a pyn 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 386.
Oppressioun and all his fallowis Ar hangit heych apon the gallowis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 201.
Thir personis … wes tane to the gallowes and gat thair lyves 1641 Spalding II. 4.
The hangman brak his suord betuixt the crossis of Abirdein, and betuixt the gallowis-tramis standing thair(b) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1757.
Than gert he … be wroucht The heyast gallows that man mycht se 1492 Myll Spect. 290/26.
The schiref behuffit allan to walk … that he ware nocht stollyn of the gallows 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 239.
Gevin to twa wrychts for beitment maid to the gallows in the Borrow Muir 1587 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 480.
To caus red the rowme of the awld gallows, baynes, deid corssis and all(c) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3875 (C).
A hie galousse [W. gallous] thai made … in dispyte and fellony 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 2.
On the west sid of the toun, … passand down to the galous a1500 S. Sages 368.
He gart four tormentouris him leid Vnto the gallous 1537 Crim. Trials I. i. 185.
The said Johne … sall be harlit and drawin throw the cassay of Edinburcht, and hangit on the gallouse to the deid 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 304.
Sen the tyme thai wer condemptnit to the gaillous Ib. 338.
Makand his repentence at the gallouse fute 1611-57 Mure Sonn. xii. 3.
Of paine to come the gallouse is but arles 1623 Black Bk. Taymouth 378.
To be hangit be his craig upon ane gibet or gallous(d) 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 191.
That he sould be hangit on ane gallus 1521 Ib. 217.
That … Thomas suld be haid bundyne to the gallos 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 276.
Ane lok to the gallois dure c1500 Roule Cursing 96 (M).
The dewill thair saulis, thair cragis the gallois 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 453.
Sen the tyme they were condempnit to the gaillois(e) a1500 Seven S. 2238.
The empriour bad To the gallhous his son be led c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. cxxxv. 23.
Fast for thame the galhous cryis 1588 Digest Justiciary Proc. L. 62.
The Justice ordanit him to be hanged on the galhous on the borrow muir

b. In pl. gallous(s)is. 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 158.
Sa mony hang vpone gallousis naikit 1616 Crim. Trials III. 587.
The treyis, gibbettis, and galloussis of all the cuntrie

2. a. An iron device for suspending a pot over a fire. 1542 Acts & Decr. (MS.) I. 141.
Ane chimnay branderit with hingand gallowis of xviij stane 1584 Edinb. Test. XIII. 191 b.
Ane irne chymnay with the gallous, raxis, tayngis & speittis 1624 M. Works Acc. XVII. 4.
Ane great irne brais with gallous and cruikis … for my lord Erskynes kitching 1649 Mun. Univ. Glasg. III. 538.
The gallows and cruicks quhilk ar upon the chimney for the kitchin 1661 Brechin Test. VI. 205 b.
Tuo iron chimnies, ane galous

b. A support for a well-bucket. 1591 Edinb. Dean Guild Acc. 460.
To ane wrycht … making the gallous of the well xj s. iiij d.

c. Attrib. with brydill bit. 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 281 b.
Ane greit gallous brydill bit xxxiij s.