Adj. (old).—Vile, or suspicious, in aspect; gallows-looking (q.v.).
Hang-gallows, adj. (old).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Hang-gallows Look, a thievish, or villainous appearance.
Hanger, subs. (old).—A side-arm—short sword or cutlass—hanging from the girdle. (See Hangers, in. pl., sense 1.)
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, x. A couteau de chasse, or short hanger.
In. pl. (old).—1. Ornamental loops from the girdle to suspend the sword and dagger.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, v. 2. Six French rapiers and poignards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so on.
1596. Nashe, Unf. Trav. [Chiswick Press, 1891]. Huge hangers that have half a cowhide in them.
1599. Jonson, Every Man out of his Humour, iv., 4. I had thrown off the hangers a little before.
1610. Jonson, Alchemist, v., 2. Where be the French petticoats, And girdles and hangers?