Public hangings are a form of capital punishment in which a person is executed by hanging in a public place. This practice has been used throughout history, with the earliest recorded instance occurring in the 8th century BC. The term 'public hangings' is derived from the Latin phrase 'supplicium publicum, ' which translates to 'public punishment.' In the United States, public hangings were common until the late 19th century, when they began to be replaced by more private executions. The last public hanging in the United States occurred in 1936. The answer to the crossword puzzle is ART, which stands for 'Act of Retribution and Terror.'