Cliffhanger
/ˈklɪfˌhæŋ.ər/noun
A story or situation ending at a suspenseful moment, or a very close contest.
Did you know?The word was coined in the late 19th century for serialized fiction, where publishers literally ended chapters on a perilous edge to force readers back for the next installment.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
cliffhanger
“A sensational serial episode ending with a character in peril or suspense”
English
English
cliff
“A steep rock face or precipice”
Old English
OE
clif
“A steep slope, bank, or precipice”
Old English
OE
hangian
“To hang, be suspended”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hangōną
“To hang, suspend”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*k̑engʰ-
“To hang”