a platform used when executing criminals by cutting off their heads or hanging them from a rope 断头台；绞刑架 to be sent to the scaffold 被送上断头台 - on the scaffold
to die on the scaffold 死在绞刑架上 She was led to the scaffold in front of a crowd of several hundred 她在数百人面前被带到刑台
a structure made of scaffolding, for workers to stand on when they are working on a building 脚手架；建筑架； 鹰架
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting a temporary platform from which to repair or erect a building): from Anglo-Norman French, from Old French (e)schaffaut, from the base of catafalque.