PILLORY (OF., Fr. pilori, from Prov. cspit lori. pillory. from Lat. speculatorins, relating to an observer, from speculator, observer, investiga tor. scout, -py, from speculare, to view, from specula, watch-tower. from spceere. to see). An obsolete instrument for the public punishment of criminals. It consisted of two parallel boards, joined by sliding hinges and fixed like a sign board on the top of a strong pole. supported on a wooden platform elevated above the ground. A large circular hole with its centre in the line of junction of the two planks received the neck, and two corresponding holes of smaller size. one on each side of it, the wrists. The pillory existed iu England before the Conquest. in the form of the halsfang or catch-neck, an instrument by which the neck only was confined; according to the 'statute of the pilory' of Henry 111. it was originally intended for "forestallers, users of de ceitful weights. perjury. forgery, etc.." and all such dishonorable offenses. Its use was confined to this class of offenders till 1637, when restric tions were put upon the press, and all who printed books without a license were put in the pillory. From this time it became the favorite
mode of punishing libelers, authors and publish ers of seditious pamphlets. or of strictures on the Government. and many eminent men suffered on the pillory. The inadequacy of the pillory as a means of inflicting punishment, however. be came apparent. for to those who were popular favorites it was no punishment. while those who were objects of popular dislike were ill-used to such an extent as occasionally to suffer death. In France the pillory was anciently called pilori, and biter carcan, from the iron collar by which the criminal's neck was attached to the post; but punishment by this mode was abolished in that country in 1832. It was also in use in Germany, where it was known as the Pranger. The pillory was abolished in England in i's37. and in the United State,. where early statutes had provided for it for some offense,. in 1839. In Delaware, however, the punishment remained.