Hanger
/ˈhæŋ.ɚ/noun
A device or hook used for hanging clothes or other objects.
Did you know?Despite its eerie vibe, the word’s history is mostly practical: it’s built from the verb *hang* plus the agent suffix *-er*, not from anything occult or execution-related.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hangian
“to hang; to be suspended”
Old English
OE
hangen
“hanging, suspended”
Middle English
ME
hangen
“to suspend or be suspended”
14th Century
English
hanger
“one who hangs or something used for hanging”
Modern English
English
hanger
“a device for hanging clothes”