Hanger

1. A woman's purse on a strap, easily severed and stolen. 2. Anything very easy of accomplishment. "Get the rods (revolvers) out. I got a trick (robbery) set up for us that's a hanger." 3. A brief or not too unpleasant prison term. "This bit (sentence) will be a hanger is that barnacle (girl) of mine kicks with a buck (sends me a few dollars) regular."

- american underworld dictionary - 1950

In poker jargon, "catching a hanger" happens when you see the dealer dealing cards off of the bottom of the deck. Cheating in a poker game is not only stupid, but it is dangerous. When playing with people that you do not know very well, if you get caught, you are probably going to receive a severe beating.

The benefit of dealing off of the bottom of the deck of cards is that you can give yourself, or someone that you are playing in cooperation with to hustle people, the cards that you think you need to win the current hand. Of course it is rather difficult to rig the deck such that you know exactly where your cards are, so one must practice this evil art quite a lot to get anything out of it.

If you wish to know more about cheating at poker, I suggest you rent and watch the movie Rounders or read all of poker.

Hang"er (?), n.

1.

One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman.

2.

That by which a thing is suspended

. Especially: (a)

A strap hung to the girdle, by which a dagger or sword is suspended

. (b) Mach.

A part that suspends a journal box in which shafting runs

. See Illust. of Countershaft. (c)

A bridle iron

.

<-- (d) clothes hanger -->

3.

That which hangs or is suspended, as a sword worn at the side; especially, in the 18th century, a short, curved sword.

4.

A steep, wooded declivity.

[Eng.]

Gilbert White.

 

© Webster 1913.