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Meaning of hookswinging | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C1

Definitions

A ritualistic form of torture in which a volunteer was hung from hooks attached to the flesh on the back.

uncountable

Examples

“In late October 1891, the Madras Mail¹ brought dramatic attention to the fact that “the barbarous and cruel custom of hookswinging to propitiate the Goddess of Rain, which has been obsolete for some time, has been revived at Sholavandan near Madura.””

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

hookswitch hooktail hookthorn hooktip hooktop heng hookum

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