The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word WOODIE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
W
O
O
D
I
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "the gallows" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case the gallows = woodie.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WOODIE mean?
WOODIE noun- An early station wagon or estate car in which the rear portion of the car's bodywork is made of wood, often associated with Southern California surfing culture.
- A wooden rollercoaster; an amusement ride whose rails are overlaid upon a wooden track.
- An erection of the penis.