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 mark: the value of which piece was settled, by a
proclamation of James I., at 13½d.]
1602. Decker, Honest Whore, Pt. II., in Wks. (1873) ii., 171. Why
should I eate hempe-seed at the hangman’s thirteene-pence
halfe-penny ordinary?
1659. Hangman’s Last Will (Rump Song quoted in Notes and Queries, 2
S. xi., 316). For half thirteen-pence half-penny wages, I would
have cleared out all the town cages, And you should have been rid
of all the sages. I and my gallows groan.
1678. Butler, Hudibras, Pt. III., c. 2. To find us pillories and
cart’s-tails, Or hangman’s wages.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hangman’s wages, thirteenpence
half-penny, which according to the vulgar tradition was thus
allotted, one shilling for the execution, and three halfpence for
the rope.
Hang-slang about, verb. phr. (common).—To abuse; to slang (q.v.); to
Billingsgate (q.v.).
Hank, subs. (old colloquial).—1. A tie; a hold; an advantage; a
difficulty. [In a hank = in trouble].
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. He has a hank upon him, or the
Ascendant over him.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. He has a hank upon him; He ... will
make him do what he pleases.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has a hank on him, i.e., an
ascendant over him, or a hold upon him: A Smithfield hank = An ox
rendered furious by over driving and barbarous treatment.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hank. To know something about a man
that is disreputable. He has a hank on the bloke, whereby he sucks
honey when he chooses, he knows something about the man, and
therefore induces him to give him money when he chooses.