Hangman

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hangman

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

HANG-man  /ˈhæŋmən/

Definition

A person employed to carry out executions by hanging; a word-guessing game in which players try to identify a hidden word letter by letter, with a drawing of a gallows and hanging figure built up for each incorrect guess.

Plain meaning

A hangman is the person whose job was to execute condemned prisoners by hanging. Hangman is also the classic word-guessing game — usually played with pencil and paper — where incorrect letter guesses build up a drawing of a hanging figure.

Register

Neutral in the game context. The executioner sense is historical. The combination of a violent image with a word-learning game has made hangman a subject of debate in educational settings about the appropriateness of the game's imagery for young children.