Meaning

noun the act of executing by a method widespread in the ancient world; the victim's hands and feet are bound or nailed to a cross

noun the death of Jesus by crucifixion

noun the infliction of extremely painful punishment or suffering

originFrom Middle English crucifixioun, from Late Latin noun of process crucifīxiō, from perfect passive participle crucifīxus (“fixed to a cross”), from crux (“cross”) + fīgō.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0