# history/origin of Hangmans noose

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 2, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949 "2002-11-02T02:51:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949/1 "2002-11-02T02:51:08Z")

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ok here is the OP again even though the title gives it away.

"Anyone know the first goverment to use hanging as it’s primary form of execution?  
Was the noose we are familiar with today always used?

My pitiful Google attempts failed me, so if anyone can help I would greatly apreciate it"

Osip

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**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949/2 "2002-11-02T02:51:40Z")

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Any hangman in particular or just in general?

Hungry, hungry hamsters. -Who forgot to do their sacrifice to the hamsters today?

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**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949/3 "2002-11-02T03:20:57Z")

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[History of executions](http://www.mbg-germering.de/unterrichtsfaecher/englisch/todesstrafe/dp/history/seite3.htm) indicates that the Romans used hanging as a method of execution.

At the same time, [this page](http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/history2.html#IntroductionoftheDeathPenalty) doesn’t mention it as a form of execution until 10th century Britain.

Definite answer? Nope, not yet.

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**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949/4 "2002-11-02T03:22:48Z")

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Just in general, when did Hanging become a form of execution… when was the hangmans knot first used.  
what country of origin.?

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-origin-of-hangmans-noose/134949/5 "2002-11-02T15:12:15Z")

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The knot that is known as the classic hangmans knot is actually not the real thing.

This point is made in Albert Pierrepoint’s autobiography, he was Britains last hangman and carried out more judicial executions than anyone in UK history.

The true hangmans noose had a wooden or metal plate through which the rope was passed, this is what broke the neck.