Meaning of hookswinging | Babel Free

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