noun, masculine/e.ʃa.fo/plural: échafauds
scaffold (elevated platform on which a criminal is executed)
“Quand ma tête aura été coupée, qu’est-ce que cela me fait qu’on en coupe d’autres ? Est-ce que vraiment j’ai pu penser ces folies ? Jeter bas l’échafaud après que j’y aurai monté !” — When my head has been cut off, what do I care if others' are cut off? Could I really think such crazy thoughts? Throw down the scaffold after I'd got up!
Related: échafaudage, échafauder
Alteration of Old French chafaud, from Late Latin *catafalicum, from Ancient Greek κατά- (katá-) + Latin fala (“tower”). Doublet of catafalque.