A mere legality

[Baker, John]

Paul Revere referred to a certain point as "where Mark was hung in chains," so I followed his usage.  Mark (a slave who killed his master) was not hung in chains until after his execution.

Online searches show that "was hung in chains" and "was hanged in chains" are about equally common (Google prefers one, Bing the other).  Since executed criminals no longer are hung in chains, many of the examples are from older writings and do not reflect current usage.


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Victor Steinbok
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 5:36 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: A mere legality

This is an interesting disagreement--I thought "hanged" was about
executions, at least, more so than about humans. Although there is the
"well hung" interference--no, I don't mean a body suspended in a well.

     VS-)

On 2/21/2012 4:58 PM, Hunter, Lynne R CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-PACIFIC, 71700
wrote:
> Aren't we saying "hanged" anymore (that is, in speaking of hanging by
> the neck, not suspension of the entire body)? Just asking. (I thought
> "hung" meant something else when applied to humans, although at this
> stage I only faintly remember.)

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