"Hang by the neck until dead" is a phrase commonly used to describe the act of executing an individual by suspending them with a rope tied around their neck, causing asphyxiation and eventually leading to their death. This method of execution, also known as hanging, has historical roots and has been employed in various cultures and legal systems throughout time.
The process usually involves securing the person's hands and feet to prevent a struggle, followed by positioning a noose around their neck, and then suspending them from a raised platform or structure, such as a gallows or scaffold. Once the person is dropped or the platform is removed, their body weight causes the rope to tighten, resulting in constriction of the airway and subsequent loss of consciousness. Death occurs primarily due to a combination of asphyxiation, damage to the spinal cord, and possibly a broken neck.
The phrase "hang by the neck until dead" is often associated with capital punishment or execution by hanging, which has been practiced as a lawful penalty for various crimes, including murder, treason, and piracy. While hanging has been abolished in many countries as a method of execution, it continues to be used in some jurisdictions, albeit less frequently.
Overall, "hang by the neck until dead" refers to the act and process of executing someone by suspending them from their neck, leading to their death through asphyxiation and related injuries caused by the hanging procedure.
