Question of the Day #178

"Trump: US justice system a 'laughing stock,' 'joke'"
From the headline of this article at The Hill.

上記の文で、laughing stock の意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "laughing stock" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、

物笑いの種、笑い草、笑いもの、冷笑の的

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

an object of ridicule

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

1510年代より。whipping-stockとwhipping post（むち打ち柱◆むち打ち刑に処す罪人を縛り付ける柱）の類似性から。

According to Online Etymology Dictionary:

 1510s, formed by analogy with whipping-stock "whipping post,"

Examples

• The team has become the laughingstock of the league.
• The mayor became a laughingstock.
• Would Obama be the laughingstock of the country if his campaign ads featured a bubbly jingle?
• The Democrats, on the other hand, started out as a laughingstock.