gallow

verb /ˈɡæləʊ/

1. To frighten, alarm, scare, or terrify.

   transitive

   The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.

2. To drive or scare away.

   transitive

3. To confuse with noise.

   transitive

Where it comes from

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”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry gallow (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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