gal·lows / ˈgalōz/ • pl. n. [usu. treated as sing.] a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals. ∎  (the gallows) execution by hanging: saved from the gallows by a last-minute reprieve.ORIGIN: Old English galga, gealga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch galg and German Galgen; reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse gálgi.

gallows apparatus for hanging a person XIII (galu treo, galwe tree, galwes). — ON. gálgi = OE. ġealga, galga, OS., OHG. galgo (Du. galg, G. galgen), Goth. galga :- Gmc. *ʒalʒan-.