Associations to the word «Pillory»

Wiktionary

PILLORY, noun. A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.
PILLORY, verb. (transitive) To put in a pillory.
PILLORY, verb. (transitive) To subject to humiliation, scorn, ridicule or abuse.
PILLORY, verb. (transitive) To criticize harshly.

Dictionary definition

PILLORY, noun. A wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck; offenders were locked in and so exposed to public scorn.
PILLORY, verb. Expose to ridicule or public scorn.
PILLORY, verb. Punish by putting in a pillory.
PILLORY, verb. Criticize harshly or violently; "The press savaged the new President"; "The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage".

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats