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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[edit]

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[edit]


  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 0-7425-1118-9, 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, June 6, 2008.