hanger

Noun (1)

hanger (plural hangers)

1. One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman, paper hanger, etc.
2. A person who attempts suicide by hanging.
   • With the jumpers and the drowners, McGee, you don't pick up a pattern. That's because a jumper damned near always makes it the first time, and a drowner is usually almost as successful, about the same rate as hangers.2017, Ronald V. Clarke, Suicide: Closing the Exits
3. A strap hung to the girdle, by which a dagger or sword is suspended.
4. A bridle iron.
5. A clothes hanger.
6. (historical) A short and broad backsword, worn so to hang at the side, especially popular in the 18th century.
   • [H]is shoulder was graced with a broad buff belt, from whence depended a huge hanger with a hilt like that of a backsword […].1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC
   • I made an offer to go for my books and chest of clothes, but he swore I should not move out of his sight; and if I did he would cut my throat, at the same time taking his hanger.1789, Olaudah Equiano, chapter 4, in The Interesting Narrative, volume I
7. (UK) A steep, wooded slope.
   • 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...1789, Gilbert White, The Natural History of Selborne, Page 187
   • 'Twould blow like this through holt and hanger1896, A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble
8. (slang) A hanging pitch; a pitch (typically a breaking ball or slider) that is poorly executed, hence easy to hit.
9. (informal, Australian rules football) Synonym of spectacular mark.

   Synonyms:

   spectacular mark

10. A device secured by a bolt and used to attach a carabiner.
    • Climbers use anchors or bolts that are already placed in the rock. They clip onto them with metal hangers. Climbers don't need to place the anchors themselves, so they can focus on making the difficult climbing moves.2012, Christine Dugan, Defying Gravity! Rock Climbing, page 37
    • In marine areas (sea cliffs), even stainless steel bolts and hangers corrode rapidly.2021, John Long, Bob Gaines, Rock Climbing: The Art of Safe Ascent, page 118

Noun (2)

UK/ˈhæŋ.ɡəː/New Zealand/ˈhɛŋ.ɡɘː/

hanger (uncountable)

1. (slang) Hunger and anger, especially when the anger is induced by the hunger.
   • The physiology of hanger. The carbohydrates, proteins and fats in everything you eat are digested into simple sugars (such as glucose), amino acids and free fatty acids. These nutrients pass into your bloodstream from where they are distributed to your organs and tissues and used for energy […]2015, Amanda Salis, “The science behind being "Hangry"”, in CNN "The conversation"

Proper noun capitalized: Hanger

Hanger (plural Hangers)

1. A surname.