Noose

For the film, see Noose (film).

Hanging noose used at public executions outside Lancaster Castle, circa 1820-1830

A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot slides to make the loop collapsible. Knots used for making nooses include the running bowline, the tarbuck knot, and the slip knot.

Use in hanging

Main article: Hanging

The knot most closely associated with execution is the hangman's knot, which is also known as the "hangman's noose".

The anatomy of a noose is such as this:

1. the open end is called a honda
2. the knots are known as hangmans knots (depending on styles)
3. the end that is plain is the hitch

In the US, a noose is sometimes left as a message in order to intimidate people. Its meaning is derived from its use in segregation era lynchings.^[1][2][3][4] It is illegal to display a noose in a threatening manner in some states such as New York and Connecticut.^[5]

See also

• And Then There Were None, detective fiction novel by Agatha Christie
• Capital punishment
• Hangman's knot
• List of knots

References

1. ^ Noose incidents evoke segregation-era fears, MSNBC. October 10, 2007.
2. ^ Coast Guard tries to deal with noose incidents, CNN. October 4, 2007.
3. ^ The Many Costs of Racism, pg. 2, Joe R. Feagin, Karyn D. McKinney, ISBN 0742511189, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2005
4. ^ Haunted: the symbolism of the noose Temitope Oriola; Charles Adeyanju, African Identities, 1472-5851, Volume 7, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 89 – 103.
5. ^ Noose displays provoke new state penalties, Stateline.org. June 6, 2008.