The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Strappado — Strap*pa do, n.; pl. {Strappadoes}. [It. strappata a pull, the strappado, from strappare to pull, from Prov. G. strapfen: cf. G. straff tense, stretched.] A military punishment formerly practiced, which consisted in drawing an offender to the top … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
strappado — /streuh pay doh, pah /, n., pl. strappadoes. 1. an old form of punishment or torture in which the victim, with arms bound behind, was raised from the ground by a rope fastened to the wrists, abruptly released, then arrested with a painful jerk… … Universalium
strappado — /strəˈpeɪdoʊ/ (say struh paydoh), / ˈpadoʊ/ (say pahdoh) noun (plural strappadoes) 1. a form of punishment or torture in which the victim, tied to a rope, was raised to a height and suddenly let fall almost to the ground. 2. the instrument used… …
strappado — [strə pā′dō, strəpä′dō] n. pl. strappadoes [It strappata < strappare, to pull < Gmc, as in Ger dial. (Swiss) strapfen, to pull tight (akin to Ger strafen, to punish) < IE * strep < base * (s)ter , stiff > STARE] 1. a former kind of … English World dictionary
