hang

hang
{{11}}hang (n.) late 15c., "a sling," from HANG (Cf. hang) (v.). Meaning "a curtain" is from c.1500; that of "the way cloth hangs" is from 1797. To get the hang of (something) "become capable" is from 1834, American English. Perhaps originally in reference to a certain tool or feat, but, if so, its origin has been forgotten. It doesn't seem to have been originally associated with drapery or any other special use of hang.
'To get the hang of a thing,' is to get the knack, or habitual facility of doing it well. A low expression frequently heard among us. In the Craven Dialect of England is the word hank, a habit; from which this word hang may perhaps be derived. [John Russell Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," New York, 1848]
{{12}}hang (v.) a fusion of O.E. hon "suspend" (transitive, class VII strong verb; past tense heng, pp. hangen), and O.E. hangian (weak, intransitive, past tense hangode) "be suspended;" also probably influenced by O.N. hengja "suspend," and hanga "be suspended." All from P.Gmc. *khang- (Cf. O.Fris. hangia, Du. hangen, Ger. hängen), from PIE *kank- "to hang" (Cf. Goth. hahan, Hittite gang- "to hang," Skt. sankate "wavers," L. cunctari "to delay;" see also second element in STONEHENGE (Cf. Stonehenge)). As a method of execution, in late O.E. (but originally specifically of crucifixion).
Hung emerged as pp. 16c. in northern England dialect, and hanged endured only in legal language (which tends to be conservative) and metaphors extended from it (I'll be hanged). Teen slang sense of "spend time" first recorded 1951; hang around "idle, loiter" is from 1830, and hang out (v.) is from 1811. Hang fire (1781) was originally used of guns that were slow in communicating the fire through the vent to the charge. To let it all hang out "be relaxed and uninhibited" is from 1967.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • hang — [haŋ] vt. HUNG, hanging; for vt. 3 & vi. 5, hanged is the preferred pt. & pp. hung [ME hangen, with form < OE vi. hangian & ON vi. hanga; senses < these, also < OE vt. hon & ON caus. v. hengja; akin to Ger vi. hangen, vt. hängen, to… …   English World dictionary

  • Hang — Hang, v. i. 1. To be suspended or fastened to some elevated point without support from below; to dangle; to float; to rest; to remain; to stay. [1913 Webster] 2. To be fastened in such a manner as to allow of free motion on the point or points of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • hang — ► VERB (past and past part. hung except in sense 2) 1) suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part not attached. 2) (past and past part. hanged) kill or be killed by tying a rope attached from above around the neck and removing the… …   English terms dictionary

  • hang — hang; hang·able; hang·by; hang·chow; hang·er; hang·er·man; hang·ie; hang·le; hang·man; hang·man·ship; hang·ment; hang·nail; re·hang; un·hang; …   English syllables

  • Hang — (h[a^]ng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hanged} (h[a^]ngd) or {Hung} (h[u^]ng); p. pr. & vb. n. {Hanging}. Usage: The use of hanged is preferable to that of hung, when reference is had to death or execution by suspension, and it is also more common.] [OE …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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