strappan

/stræpɑːˈdoʊ, stræpəˈdoʊ/

Definitions

1. noun

a form of torture in which the victim is suspended in the air with their arms tied behind their back and a rope attached to a weight, causing severe pain in the shoulders and back

“The inquisition used strappado as a method of extracting confessions from suspected heretics.”

Synonyms

  • piquet
  • stretching torture

Antonyms

  • clemency
  • mercy