Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “hanger” come from?

Hanger comes from Middle English hanger, likely from a word meaning to hang or something that hangs, though the ultimate origin remains uncertain.

hanger (English): One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman,...

Definitions

  1. One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman,...

Ancestry of “hanger”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHangName and trademark of a musical instrument...
2EnglishdangDamn; A damn, a negligible quantity, minimal...
3EnglishdamnTo condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare...
4Middle Englishdampnento damn
5Old Frenchdampnerto damn
6Latindamnō—
7Latindamnumdamage or injury; loss; a fine
8Proto-Italicdapnom—
9Proto-Indo-Europeandh₂pnómexpense, investment
10Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
11Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide

Words derived from “hanger”

  • hangers
  • cliffhanger
  • paperhanger
  • onhanger
  • straphanger
  • crapehanger
  • pothanger
  • doorhanger
  • apehanger
  • crepehanger
  • byhanger
  • hanger steak
  • goalhanger
  • hangerless
  • ハンガー
  • hanger
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →