Pranger

German

Alternative forms

  • Brangel, Branger, Pfrange, Pfranger, Pfrenger, Prange (obsolete)

Etymology

From northern Middle High German pranger (13th c.), derived from *prangen, a West Central German form of phrengen, phrangen (to force, squeeze, confine), from Proto-Germanic *pranganą (compare English prong). Not related with prangen, but possibly at some point associated with it.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpraŋər/, [ˈpʁa.ŋɐ]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Pranger m (strong, genitive Prangers, plural Pranger)

  1. pillory; any construction to hold someone for public humiliation
    • 1904, Friedrich Bernhard Störzner, Was die Heimat erzählt, Arwed Strauch, page 197:
      Wer am Pranger stand, der konnte von jedermann verhöhnt, verlacht, verspottet, ja mit Schmutz und Kot beworfen werden.
      Who stood at the pillory could be scoffed, ridiculed, mocked by everyone, even be thrown at with dirt and excrements.

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Further reading