bastinado

[ bas-tuh-ney-doh, -nah-doh ]

noun

, plural bas·ti·na·does.

1. a mode of punishment consisting of blows with a stick on the soles of the feet or on the buttocks.
2. a blow or a beating with a stick, cudgel, etc.
3. a stick or cudgel.

verb (used with object)

, bas·ti·na·doed, bas·ti·na·do·ing.

1. to beat with a stick, cane, etc., especially on the soles of the feet or on the buttocks.

bastinado

/ ˌbæstɪˈneɪdəʊ /

noun

1. punishment or torture in which the soles of the feet are beaten with a stick
2. a blow or beating with a stick
3. a stick; cudgel

verb

1. to beat (a person) on the soles of the feet

Other Words From

• unbas·ti·nadoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastinado¹

1570–80; earlier bastanado < Spanish bastonada ( bastón stick ( baton ) + -ada -ade ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bastinado¹

C16: from Spanish bastonada , from baston stick, from Late Latin bastum see baton

Example Sentences

In every Arab village the sheik was a petty tyrant, who could bastinado the miserable fellahs at his will.

From Project Gutenberg

For most offences the bastinado is inflicted, but for heinous crimes capital punishments are enforced.

From Project Gutenberg

They took me before the Cadi, who ordered me to receive one hundred bastinadoes, and sent me to the galleys.

From Project Gutenberg

The bastinado is also most extensively used as a punishment.

From Project Gutenberg

The Roman censors could expel a Senator for being drunk and take away his horse; Mahomet ordered drunkards to be bastinadoed with eighty blows.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• nightstick
• truncheon