English

Noun

hanger ‎(plural hangers)

1. One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman.
2. That by which a thing is suspended. Especially:
   1. A strap hung to the girdle, by which a dagger or sword is suspended.
   2. A bridle iron.
   3. A clothes hanger.
3. That which hangs or is suspended, as a sword worn at the side; especially, in the 18th century, a short, curved sword.
   • 1819, Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, Rip Van Winkle:

     He was a stout old gentleman, with a weather-beaten countenance; he wore a laced doublet, broad belt and hanger, high-crowned hat and feather, red stockings, and high-heeled shoes, with roses in them.

4. (Britain) A steep, wooded slope.
   • 1789, Gilbert White, The Natural History of Selborne, Page 187:

     About the tenth of July in the same Summer a pair of sparrow-hawks bred in an old crow's nest on a low beech in the same hanger; and as their brood, which was numerous, began to grow up, became so daring and ravenous, that they were a terror to all the dames in the village that had chickens or ducklings under their care.

   • 1896, A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble:

     'Twould blow like this through holt and hanger

5. (baseball, slang) A hanging pitch; a pitch (typically a breaking ball or slider) that is poorly executed hence easy to hit.

Usage notes

Not to be confused with hangar (a garage-like building for airplanes).

Translations

Anagrams

• rehang

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: han‧ger

Etymology

From hangen +‎ -er

Noun

hanger m ‎(plural hangers, diminutive hangertje n)

1. hanger
2. jewel that hangs