Criticize severely, punish, as in The traditionalists often want to tar and feather those who don’t conform. This expression alludes to a former brutal punishment in which a person was smeared with tar and covered with feathers, which then stuck.
Tar and feathering is a form of public humiliation and punishment that has been used at various times throughout history. The practice involves covering a person in hot tar and then coating them with feathers. The tar adheres to the person’s skin, causing intense discomfort and humiliation. Feathers stick to the tar, creating a grotesque and degrading appearance.
“Gamekeeper, sworn officer of a forest whose work is to walk through it and protect it”
The term “ranger” is derived from the Middle English word “renger,” which initially meant a keeper or guardian of a forest. The Middle English word was influenced by the Old French “rangeor,” which also referred to someone who guarded a forest or managed the game within it. The Old French term ultimately derives from the verb “rengier,” meaning “to arrange” or “to put in order.” This reflects the early duties of rangers, which involved managing and organizing the resources and wildlife in forests.
