hempstringn.
literal.
String or cord made of hemp. Hence transferred, one who deserves the halter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > roguery > rogue > [noun] > worthy of hanging
wickhals?a1400
crack-rope?a1500
stretch-hemp1532
man of death1535
slip-string1546
waghalter1546
hang-rope1570
rope-ripe1570
crack-halter1573
hempstring1573
wag-string1578
stretch-halter1583
gallows1598
halter-sack1598
wag-with1611
roper1615
gallows-climber1668
hang-string1675
gallows-face1725
gallows-bird1785
society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > roguery, knavery, or rascalry > [noun] > rogue, knave, or rascal > worthy of hanging
wickhals?a1400
crack-rope?a1500
widdieneck?a1500
widdiefu?a1513
thevis neka1525
stretch-hemp1532
man of death1535
slip-string1546
waghalter1546
ropeful1567
gallows-clapper1570
hang-rope1570
rope-ripe1570
crack-halter1573
hempstring1573
wag-string1578
stretch-halter1583
gallows1598
halter-sack1598
wag-with1611
crack-hempa1616
roper1615
halter-sick1617
gallows-climber1668
hang-string1675
hempy1718
gallows-face1725
gallows-bird1785
hang-gallows1785
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > other manufactured or derived materials > [noun] > rope or cord > types of
sandwich1494
parchment lace1542
hempstring1573
sinnet1611
jackline1612
spun-yarn1627
sennit1769
Manila1826
four-inch1840
stropping1850
1573 G. Gascoigne tr. Ariosto Supposes iv. ii, in Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 35 If I come neere you hempstring, I will teache you [printed nowe] to sing sol fa.
1606 G. Chapman Monsieur D'Oliue in Plays (1873) I. 241 A perfect yong hempstring. Van. Peace, least he overheare you!
1885 W. D. Howells Rise Silas Lapham I. i. 40 He cut the heavy hemp-string with his penknife.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1573