Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
tar-and-feather
verb
/ˈtɑr ənd ˈfɛðər/
Definition
A historical form of punishment where a person is coated with tar and covered in feathers as a form of humiliation or protest.
Examples
- The angry mob decided to tar-and-feather the traitor as a warning to others.
- During the colonial era, mobs would sometimes tar-and-feather tax collectors to express their discontent.
- As a joke, his friends pretended to tar-and-feather him, but it was all in good fun.
Meaning
To tar and feather someone means to publicly humiliate or punish them, often in a very aggressive manner that leaves a lasting physical and emotional mark.
Synonyms
- public shaming
- humiliation
- lynching (historically contextual)
