pillory

pillory
    n 1: 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
    v 1: expose to ridicule or public scorn [syn: {pillory},
         {gibbet}]
    2: punish by putting in a pillory
    3: criticize harshly or violently; "The press savaged the new
       President"; "The critics crucified the author for
       plagiarizing a famous passage" [syn: {savage}, {blast},
       {pillory}, {crucify}]
    

Pillory \Pil"lo*ry\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pilloried}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Pillorying}.] [Cf. F. pilorier.]
   1. To set in, or punish with, the pillory. "Hungering for
      Puritans to pillory." --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Figuratively, to expose to public scorn. --Gladstone.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Pillory \Pil"lo*ry\, n.; pl. {Pillories}. [F. pilori; cf. Pr.
   espitlori, LL. piloricum, pilloricum, pellericum, pellorium,
   pilorium, spilorium; perhaps from a derivative of L.
   speculari to look around, observe. Cf. {Speculate}.]
   A frame of adjustable boards erected on a post, and having
   holes through which the head and hands of an offender were
   thrust so as to be exposed in front of it. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]
    

PILLORY, n.  A mechanical device for inflicting personal distinction
-- prototype of the modern newspaper conducted by persons of austere
virtues and blameless lives.
    

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 This punishment has been superseded by the adoption of the 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. 
    

127 Moby Thesaurus words for "pillory":
      Oregon boat, attaint, bespatter, bilbo, blacken, blot, blow upon,
      bond, bonds, brand, branks, bridle, bring into discredit,
      bring low, bring shame upon, bring to account, bring to book,
      call to account, camisole, cast reproach upon, castigate, censure,
      chains, chasten, chastise, collar, correct, crank, cucking stool,
      cuffs, deal with, debase, defame, defile, defrock, degrade,
      deplume, deride, disapprove, discipline, discredit, disgrace,
      dishonor, disparage, displume, ducking stool, expose,
      expose to infamy, fetter, finger pillory, gag, gibbet, grin at,
      gyves, halter, hamper, handcuffs, hang in effigy, hobbles,
      hold in derision, hopples, humiliate, impute shame to,
      inflict upon, irons, laugh at, laugh to scorn, leading strings,
      leash, make fun of, make game of, make merry with, manacle,
      masthead, muzzle, pan, penalize, point at, poke fun at, punish,
      put one on, put to shame, rag, razz, reflect discredit upon, reins,
      reprimand, reproach, restraint, restraints, ride, ridicule, roast,
      settle with, shackle, shame, slur, smear, smile at, snicker at,
      snigger at, soil, square accounts, stain, stigmatize, stocks,
      straightjacket, strait-waistcoat, straitjacket, stranglehold,
      sully, taint, take to task, tarnish, tether, trammel, trammels,
      treadmill, trebuchet, triangle, triangles, unfrock, vilify,
      visit upon, whipping post, wooden horse, yoke