LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · neutersecond declension

patibulum

patibulum n (genitive patibulī)
Classical[paˈtɪ.bʊ.ɫũː]Ecclesiastical[paˈtiː.bu.lum]

Meaning

  1. neuterfork-shaped yoke, pillory, or gibbet (for criminals)
    Vexilla regis prodeunt Fulget crucis mysterium Quo carne carnis conditor,The Banners of the King issue forth, the mystery of the Cross does gleam, where the Creator of flesh, in the flesh, from the cross-bar is hung.6th century, Venantius Fortunatus, Vexilla regis, first stanza

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativepatibulumpatibula
genitivepatibulīpatibulōrum
dativepatibulōpatibulīs
accusativepatibulumpatibula
ablativepatibulōpatibulīs
vocativepatibulumpatibula

pătĭbŭlum, i, n. (
I. masc. collat. form pătĭbŭlus, i, Varr. ap. Non. 221, 12; v. in the foll.) [pateo], a fork-shaped yoke, placed on the necks of criminals, and to which their hands were tied; also, a fork-shaped gibbet (syn. furca).
I. Lit.: dispessis manibus patibulum quom habebis, Plaut. Mil. 2, 4, 7: patibulo eminens adfigebatur, Sall. Fragm. ap. Non. 4, 355 (Hist. 4, 40 Dietsch): caedes, patibula, ignes, cruces, Tac. A. 14, 33; Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 41, § 90.—Masc.: deligat ad patibulos, Varr. ap. Non. 221, 12: suspende eos contra solem in patibulis, Vulg. Num 25, 4.—
II. A forked prop for vines, Plin. 17, 23, 35, § 212; Cato, R. R. 26.—
B. A wooden bar for fastening a door, Titin. ap. Non. 366, 16.

Origins

From pate(ō) (“to open; to extend”) + -bulum (forming instruments), literally “a device on which one is extended, stretched”.

Descendants
  • Englishpatibulum
  • Frenchpatibulaire
  • Italianpatibolo
  • Portuguesepatíbulo
  • Spanishpatíbulo

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesPatibulumPatibulum from patere, seems to have originally denoted any beam placed horizontally; as the cross-bar of a door (Titin. ap. Non. p. 366, 16), or of a…

Quick answers

What does patibulum mean in Latin?
patibulum, a noun, means “fork-shaped yoke, pillory, or gibbet (for criminals)”.
What is the genitive of patibulum?
The genitive singular is patibulī. patibulum is neuter, second declension.
How do you pronounce patibulum?
In classical Latin, [paˈtɪ.bʊ.ɫũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [paˈtiː.bu.lum].