hang, draw and quarter

== English == === Etymology === From hang +‎ draw and quarter. === Pronunciation === === Verb === hang, draw and quarter (third-person singular simple present hangs, draws and quarters, present participle hanging, drawing and quartering, simple past hanged, drew and quartered or hung, drew and quartered, past participle hanged, drawn and quartered or hung, drawn and quartered) (transitive, historical) To execute (someone) by hanging until nearly dead, followed by castration, disembowelling, beheading and quartering; especially as a punishment for high treason. (transitive, figurative) To savagely attack, or attempt to utterly destroy. Alternative form: draw and quarter ==== References ==== Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 17th edition (2005), edited John Ayto (Widenfeld & Nicolson, →ISBN