hanger
UK: ˈhæŋə | US: ˈhæŋər
n. a device used to suspend or hang objects (e.g., clothes)
n. a person who hangs something (e.g., executioner, wallpaper hanger)
n. (informal) a type of aircraft or vehicle designed to hang or hover
The word "hanger" derives from the verb "hang" (Old English hōn, meaning "to suspend") combined with the agentive suffix "-er," which denotes a person or tool performing an action. Originally used to describe a person who hangs objects (e.g., executioners), its meaning expanded to include tools like clothes hangers in the 17th century. The logical progression reflects the shift from human agents to inanimate objects serving the same function.
She placed her coat on the wooden hanger in the closet.
The museum displayed antique hangers from the 1800s.
The executioner was historically referred to as a hanger.
This innovative hanger prevents clothes from slipping off.
The helicopter is a modern hanger, capable of hovering mid-air.