| 释义 |
† bouˈrreau Obs.
Also 6 Sc. boreau, burreau, 7 boureau: see also burrio.
[In 16th c. boreau, a. OF. boreau (earlier borel), now bourreau, of uncertain origin: see Diez and Littré. Common, in many spellings in Scotch literature.]
An executioner, hangman, or torturer. Chiefly fig.
1549Compl. Scot. 27 That samyn boreau is stikkit or hangit eftiruart for his cruel demeritis. Ibid. The cruel inglis men..ar boreaus ande hang men permittit be god to puneis vs. 1567Fenton Trag. Disc. 208 b, Covetousnes..is thordynarie torment and contynual bourreau that trobles the mynd of thold man. 1584J. Melvill Diary (1842) 203 Bludie burreaus and crewall buchars of Sathan. 1599Jas. I. βασιλ. Δωρον (1682) 20 A Tyrannes..infamous life armeth..his owne subjects to become his burreaux. c1720Prior Viceroy (D.) The Bourreau did his worst. |