Gallows Humor: Gallows humor is a type of dark or morbid humor that finds comedy in situations that are typically seen as serious, distressing, or taboo, often related to death or danger. It serves as a coping mechanism to alleviate the discomfort associated with grim realities. The term originates from observing people joking before being executed by hanging.
Gallow: A gallow is a structure traditionally used for executing individuals by hanging. Historically, gallows symbolize death and punishment, making them an apt metaphor for the kind of humor that confronts mortality or dire circumstances with irony or wit.