Crossword Dictionary
noose
noose, running noose, slip noose - n
a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot; it binds tighter as the cord or rope is pulled
The knot most closely associated with execution is the hangman's knot, which is also known as the "hangman's noose." Tying is similar to the original noose, but several turns are wrapped around the loop. The reason for this was to make the hanging more humane, as it would break the person's neck, killing the person instantly, rather than strangling to death.
In the United States, a noose is sometimes left as a message in order to intimidate people, as it was the main object used in segregation era lynchings. In 2020, a bill to make lynching a federal hate crime was introduced. It is illegal to display a noose in a threatening manner in Virginia, New York and Connecticut.