gibbeting

Gibbeting was a form of public execution and punishment used in England and Wales from the 14th century until the mid-19th century. The condemned person, after being hanged, was then encased in a metal cage, often referred to as a gibbet, and suspended from a scaffold or a specially constructed gallows. The purpose of this was to expose the corpse to the elements and scavengers as a deterrent to others who might consider committing similar crimes.

The bodies would often remain in the gibbet for a considerable period, sometimes for months, serving as a gruesome spectacle. The type of crime that warranted such a punishment varied, but it was typically reserved for serious offenses such as murder, piracy, or treason. The specific design of the gibbet and the location of its erection were often chosen to maximize visibility and impact. Some gibbets were erected on prominent hillsides or near busy thoroughfares.

The practice of gibbeting was gradually abolished due to humanitarian concerns and the perceived ineffectiveness of the practice as a deterrent. The Murder Act of 1823 in England abolished the public dissection of murderers and allowed judges discretion in ordering the gibbeting of offenders. The final recorded instance of gibbeting in England was in 1832, and it was formally abolished by an act in 1834. While the physical practice ceased, the term "gibbet" sometimes persisted in figurative language to describe something held up for public ridicule or scorn.