X

Xylon in Greek comes from the verb 'to make smooth, to polish', and very specifically refers to worked wood and not a living tree--it very commonly designated the poles or planks used for tying or nailing up the condemned. The original Greek words used in the Bible, stauros and xylon, mean stake and tree, respectively. The Anchor Bible Dictionary I 1207 defines 'crucifixion' as 'The act of nailing or binding a living victim or sometimes a dead person to a cross or stake (stauros or skolops) or a tree (xylon).' A punishment among the Greeks answering to our stocks.