Category:Strappado

Strap*pa"do, n.; pl. Strappadoes. Etym: [it. strappata a pull, the Strappado, from strappare to pull, from prov. G. strapfen: cf. G. Straff tense, stretched.]

Defn: a military punishment formerly practiced, which consisted in Drawing an offender to the top of a beam and letting him fall to the Length of the rope, by which means a limb was often dislocated. Shak.

Strappado Strap*pa"do, v. t.

Defn: to punish or torture by the strappado. Milton.