pillory
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pillory
verb accuse, asperse, attaint, befoul, belittle, berate, besmear, besmirch, bespatter, blacken, blot, brand, bring shame upon, calumniate, cast a slur upon, cast asperrions on, cause a scandal, damage a reputation, debase, defame, defile, degrade, denigrate, denounce, destroy a reputation, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, expose to infamy, gibbet, give a bad name, hold up to ridicule, hold up to shame, impute shame to, lampoon, laugh at, lower, make fun of, malign, mock, put in a bad light, put to shame, ridicule, run down, scandalize, scorn, smear, smirch, soil, spatter, speak ill of, stain, stigmatize, sully, taint, tarnish, traduce, vilify, vituperateSee also: brand, condemn, defame, denigrate, denounce, disgrace, dishonor, smear
PILLORY, punishment. wooden machine in which the neck of the culprit is
inserted.
2. This punishment has been superseded by the adoption of the
penitentiary system in most of the states. Vide 1 Chit. Cr. Law, 797. The
punishment of standing in the pillory, so far as the same was provided by
the laws of the United States, was abolished by the act of congress of
February 27, 1839, s. 5. See Baxr. on the Stat. 48, note.