Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: (6 stappado, strippado, stroppado), 7 strappada, strappadoe, 6– strappado; pl. 6–7 strappadoes, 6 -das); 6–8 strapado, (7 strapadoe, 8 strapade). [ad. F. strapade, estrapade, ad. It. strappata, f. strappare to drag, pull, snatch; for the quasi-Sp. ending see -ado.]
1. A form of punishment or of torture to extort confession in which the victim’s hands were tied across his back and secured to a pulley; he was then hoisted from the ground and let down half way with a jerk; also an application of this punishment or torture; also the instrument used.
1560. J. Frampton, in Strype, Ann. Ref., xx. (1709), I. 232. And forthwith I was plucked up again; and after a while let down again. And being put down well near dead … of this Torment of the Stappado [sic], they asked me [etc.].
1568. V. Skinner, Gonsalvius’ Discov. Pract. Spanish Inquis., 24 b. They … bid the hangman to slip the ropes suddenly, that he may fall downe with a sway, and in the halfe way to stop and geue him the Strippado: which being done with a trice, al his whole body is out of frame.
1583. Greene, Mamillia, I. 22 b. Or the superstitious Essenians … had had Licurgus for their iudge, they had in mine opinion purchased ye strapado for their paines.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. x. 44 b. The one … hadde presently three stroppados at the yardes arme of the gally.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 262. No: were I at the Strappado, or all the Racks in the World, I would not tell you on compulsion.
1598. Florio, Worlde of Wordes, Ep. Ded. a 4. One saies of Petrarche for all: A thousand strappadas coulde not compell him to confesse, what some interpreters will make him saie he ment.
1670. R. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 254. And a pocket pistol found about you … is enough to make you be sent to the Gallies with tre tratti di corda, that is, the strappada thrice.
1725. Lond. Gaz., No. 6343/1. Turin.… A few Days ago an Advocate underwent the Punishment of the Strapade.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! vii. I have had too much of the rack already, and the strappado too, to care much what man can do unto me.
1888. H. C. Lea, Hist. Inquisition, I. 400, note. In some witch trials of 1474 in Piedmont the oath to tell the truth was enforced with excommunication and ‘tratti di corde,’ or infliction of the torture known as the strappado, varying from ten to twenty-five times.
† b. as a punishment used in military discipline.
1622. F. Markham, Epist. Warre, III. vii. 106. [The Provost Marshal] is … to see all places of Execution … furnished with … Gallowes, Gybbets, Scaffolds, Pillories, Stocks or Strappadoes.
1671. Sir J. Turner, Pallas Armata, xxvii. 348. Military Punishments, which reach not to Death, are the Strappado, hanging up by the Thumbs, [etc.].
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 310/2. There are several other Punishments used by Military Officers for the Chastising of Offending Soldiers, as … the half Strappado, the whole Strappado…. The Half Strappado, is to have the Mans hands tyed cross behind his Back, and so by them be drawn up to a considerable height, and so let down again…. The Whole Strappado, is when the person is drawn up to his height, and then suddenly to let him fall half way with a jerk.
† c. transf. and fig. Obs.
1594. Selimus, H 4. Marrie that had bene the way to preferment, downe Holburne vp Tiburne: well ile keepe my best ioynt from the strappado.
1598. E. Guilpin, Skial. (1878), 32. He’s a Strappado, rack, and some such paine To base lewd vice.
1615. Brathwait (title), A Strappado for the Diuell. Ibid., To Rdr. Be honest still and thou art out of the swing of this strappado.
1626. J. Yates, Ibis ad Cæs., II. 14. Truth hath alwaies given her enemies such Strappadoes, that it wresteth some words of confession from them against their will.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. iv. 109. O sad strapado of the soul, to be hoised up so high, and then cast down suddenly so low.
1691. Abp. Sancroft, Fam. Lett. to North (1757), 23. My old pain in my right shoulder, which gives me the strappada sometimes, when I put on my doublet.
¶ 2. Erroneously taken to mean ‘chastisement by blows’ (J.). [Cf. STRAP sb. 1 b, STRAP v. 2.]
1668. R. L’Estrange, Vis. Quev., vii. 311. If I dye, let my Boy Robin have the Strappado, three hours a day, to be duly paid him during Life.
1704. T. Baker, Act at Oxf., II. ii. 24. [The Beadles give him a Blow on the Back with a Stick.] Dri. Sir! Blo. That Strappado, Sir, is to inform your Body, you are … putting on the more decent Habit of a Doctor.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 509, ¶ 3. The Benches around are so filthy, that no one can sit down, yet the Beadles and Officers have the Impudence at Christmas to ask for their Box, though they deserve the Strapado.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., II. To Rdr. 8. Having a Pope-Sinon to undergo the voluntary Operations of his own Party’s Satyrical Lashes and Mootly Strapades.
1769. Bickerstaffe, Padlock, I. viii. He gave me the strappado on my shoulders, and the bastinado on the soles of my feet.
