Strangle
/ˈstræŋ.ɡl̩/noun
To kill someone by squeezing the throat to cut off air.
Did you know?In medieval times, strangling was often associated with both execution and dark magic, as it was believed to sever the spirit from the body in a permanent way.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*strengʰ-
“to draw tight, constrict.”
Old English
Old English
stranglian
“to bind or choke.”
Middle English
Middle English
stranglen
“to suffocate or throttle.”
15th Century
Middle English
strangle
“to kill by choking; related to execution methods.”
Modern English
English
strangle
“to suffocate or kill by compressing the throat.”
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