Hang-bluff, subs. (rhyming).—Snuff.
1857. Ducange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Hang-by, subs. (old).—A hanger-on;
a parasite; a companion.
1598. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iv., 2. I am not afraid of you nor them neither, you hang-byes here.
Hang-dog, subs. (old).—A pitiful
rascal, only fit for the rope or the
hanging of superfluous curs. Cf.,
Gallows-bird.
1732. Fielding, Mock Doctor, i., 4. Heaven has inspired me with one of the most wonderful inventions to be revenged on my hang-dog.
Adj. (old).—Vile, or suspicious, in aspect; gallows-looking (q.v.).
Hang-gallows, adj. (old).—See
quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hang-gallows Look, a thievish, or villainous appearance.
Hanger, subs. (old).—A side-arm—short
sword or cutlass—hanging
from the girdle. (See Hangers,
in. pl., sense 1.]
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, x. A couteau de chase, or short hanger.
In. pl. (old).—1. Ornamental loops from the girdle to suspend the sword and dagger.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, v. 2. Six French rapiers and poignards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so on.
1596. Nashe, Unf. Trav. [Chiswick Press, 1891]. Huge hangers that have half a cowhide in them.
1599. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour, iv., 4. I had thrown off the hangers a little before.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, v., 2. Where be the French petticoats, And girdles and hangers?
2. (common).—Gloves; specifically gloves in the hand.
3. See Pothooks.
Hang-in-chains, subs. phr. (old).—See
quots.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hang-in-chains, a vile desperate fellow.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Hang-in-chains. A vile, desperate fellow. Persons guilty of murder, or other atrocious crimes, are frequently, after execution, hanged on a gibbet, to which they are fastened by iron bandages; the gibbet is commonly placed on or near the place where the crime was committed.
Hanging, adj. (colloquial).—Fit
for the halter.
Hanging-bee, subs. (American).—A
gathering of lynch-lawmongers,
bent on the application of the
rope. See Bee.
Hanging Johnny, subs. phr.
(venery).—The penis: specifically,
in a condition of impotence or
disease. For synonyms, see
Creamstick and Prick.
Hangman, subs. (old).—A jocular
endearment.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado About Nothing, iii., 2. He had twice or thrice cut Cupid's bowstring, and the little hangman dare not shoot at him.
Hangman's-day, subs. (old).—Monday,
and (in America) Friday.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hangman's day. Friday is so called from the custom of hanging people on a Friday.
Hangman's-wages, subs. (old).—Thirteen-pence-halfpenny.
[The
fee for an execution was a Scots
