Tyburn tree

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Tyburn tree^¹

Where it comes from

So called because at one time, criminals were executed by being hung from elm trees along the banks of the Tyburn Brook (historically, often confused with the nearby Tyburn River), a tributary stream which ran through Hyde Park.

proper noun Tyburn Tree · Tyburn-tree

historical A gallows, situated at Tyburn, Middlesex, (present-day Greater London), that was used for public hangings from medieval times until 1783 (when executions were moved to Newgate Prison). If he entered London by Oxford-street,Tyburn tree would certainly attract his attention, especially when ten or twelve criminals were about to suffer in the presence of a crowd of people gathered round it, indulging themselves in the sports and pastimes usual on such occasions.
Similar: Tyburn gallows, Middlesex gallows, Three-legged mare

noun Tyburn trees · Tyburn Tree · Tyburn-tree

broadly, obsolete A gallows. 1840, James W. Peppercorns (translator), Moses Maimonides, The Laws of the Hebrews, Relating to the Poor and the Stranger, Pelham Richardson, page civ, The wild Olive, and the Fig, were the Tyburn-trees of the Athenians.

Tyburn Tree^²

proper noun

Alternative letter-case form of Tyburn tree

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MLA

"Tyburn tree." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tyburn%20tree. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

Tyburn tree. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tyburn%20tree

Chicago

"Tyburn tree." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tyburn%20tree.

BibTeX

@misc{tyburn_tree_2026,
  title = {Tyburn tree},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tyburn%20tree},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}