What does "Drawn and Quartered" meen??

Answer 1

CPWS and tentofield have it right about 'hanged, drawn and quartered'. Unfortunately, they didn't provide you a source (nor did anyone else!). So check the following article for details:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/189300.html

Do note that this was never a *common* punishment but was reserved for cases of high treason.

(Actually, practices akin to the last element, including the public display of the person's head, etc. has been used in executions for treason in many societies -- from beheading to impaling to crucifixion. In every case this is meant to both the final public humiliiation of the individual and a powerful warning to others who might consider rebelling.)

Answer 2

Wrong wrong wrong.. there were NO horses involved! The full term was Hung, drawn and quartered. The person was hung until almost dead, then the entrails were drawn from the body via a long cut from chest to groin, then the body was cut into pieces to be sent to various parts of the relevant kingdom to show others. However, the head (5th part so quartered isnt strictly correct) was put on a spike at some prominent location. This would either be the castle/wall gates or if you were really lucky London Bridge (in the case of England). At least you had a good view from up there!

Answer 3

As CPWS says, no horses were involved in the process even though Mel Gibson managed to get one into the punishment in Braveheart. The sentence was given for high treason in the UK from about Tudor times to the 18th century with some remnants carrying over to the early 19th century.

The condemned was drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution and there he was hanged (women were not given this sentence, they were burnt at the stake). He was taken down before death and his genitals were cut off. He was then opened up and his entrails were removed and burnt and then his heart was removed and burnt. A skilled executioner who wanted to be really nasty could keep the man alive until the removal of the heart. The head was cut off and the body was cut into four pieces with the parts sent to different places for exhibition.

Because beheading was part of the sentence the monarch, in his or her mercy, could remove all the extra bits of the sentence leaving only the beheading and this was the practice with nobles condemned for high treason.

The last executions for high treason in the UK where the condemned were hanged and then beheaded were in 1820 when the five Cato St conspirators were put to death.

Answer 4

A less than pleasant way to die. Four horses were used, one tied to each arm and leg, to rip the human body apart. Sometimes the limbs were chopped off with an ax during the process. Fairly common form of punishment in the dark and middle ages in Europe.

Answer 5

Drawn - dragged behind a cart while still living
Quartered - pulled (or cut) into four portions by the limbs, afterwhich the pieces were usually put on display

Answer 6

To be "Drawn and Quartered" is shown in the "Faces of Death series" The example in the series is a man in eastern europe who owed some money. Each wrist and each ankle was attached to ropes which wher attached to four horses, one rope per each horse. Then the man was "Drawn" by the horses being lead out to maximum distance from the man to make the ropes taunt. Then each horse was smacked hard to make the horse run in four opposing directions, thus "Quartering" then man. Each arm pulled out of its socket and each leg out of its socket. Extremely painful way to die.

Answer 7

Means just what it says. Back in the old days, they had some unusual punishments. What it means, is they hooked up 4 horses to you, to tear you apart. After that, they chopped up whatever was left into 4 pieces.

Now ain't you glad that we only have Abu Graib?

Answer 8

Not good. Limbs are tied and stretched in 4 directions until they are pulled away from the body.

Answer 9

it usually meant you were tied to four horses and then the four horses went in four different directions hence quartered

Answer 10

it means to tie each of a person's limbs to a different horse and scare the horses