Hangman
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
An executioner
The name usually given to a man employed by the sheriff to put a man to death, according to law, in pursuance of a Judgment of a competent court and lawful warrant HANGWITE (from Saxon hangian, to hang, and tdte, fine). A fine, in Saxon law, for illegal hanging of a thief, or for allowing him to escape. Immunity from such fine. Du Cange.