picota
pillory
pico
peak, point
+
-ota
augmentative suffix
Picota means pillory and can be thought of as pico0 (peak or point0) + -ota1 (augmentative suffix1), suggesting a large pointed structure used for public punishment.
noun
- pilloryA pillory or public post used for punishment in medieval timesEn la plaza del pueblo aún se conserva la antigua picota. // The old pillory is still preserved in the town square.