Bridport dagger

English

Noun

Bridport dagger (plural Bridport daggers)

1. (obsolete, colloquial) A hangman's noose.

   Synonyms: hempen cravat; see also Thesaurus:hangman's noose

   • 2023 December 27, Stephen Roberts, “Bradshaw's Britain: the way to Weymouth”, in RAIL, number 999, page 53:

     Bradshaw has a welcome habit of lobbing in the odd bit of local folklore, and he excels here with "He was stabbed with a Bridport dagger was an old saying for a man that was hung".

Usage notes

• To be "stabbed with a Bridport dagger" was to be executed by hanging.