Legal Definitions - hangman

The term "hangman" is an archaic word referring to an official responsible for carrying out the death penalty, specifically through the method of hanging.

• Example 1: Historical Legal Record

  In a preserved court record from 18th-century England, a document might detail the conviction of a highwayman and then state that the "hangman of the shire was commanded to execute the sentence at dawn."

  This example illustrates "hangman" as the designated official in a historical legal context, tasked with performing the execution of a condemned criminal by hanging.

• Example 2: Literary Context

  A historical novel set during the French Revolution might describe a scene where a crowd gathers to witness an execution, with a character grimly observing, "The hangman adjusted the rope, his face impassive, as the condemned man made his final prayers."

  Here, "hangman" is used in a narrative to refer to the individual whose professional duty it was to carry out capital punishment by hanging, reflecting the historical role.

• Example 3: Historical Societal Role

  During a historical lecture on medieval justice, a speaker might explain that certain towns maintained a permanent "hangman" who, despite their grim duties, was often a recognized, albeit feared, figure within the community, responsible for all public executions.

  This demonstrates "hangman" as a specific, recognized societal role or profession in historical periods when capital punishment by hanging was a common practice.