WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
strap•pa•do
(strə pā′dō, -pä′-),USA pronunciation n., pl. -does.
- an old form of punishment or torture in which the victim, with arms bound behind, was raised from the ground by a rope fastened to the wrists, abruptly released, then arrested with a painful jerk just before reaching the ground.
- the instrument used for this purpose.
- Gothic strappan to stretch) + -ata -ade1
- alteration of Middle French strapade or its source, Italian strappata a sharp pull or tug, equivalent. to strapp- (stem of strappare to snatch (1550–60
'strappado' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):