Hempen

Pronunciation

• Canada IPA: /ˈhÉ›mpÉ™n/

Origin

From Middle English hempen, hempyn, from Old English *hænepen ("made of hemp, hempen"), equivalent to hemp + -en. Cognate with Dutch hennepen ("hempen"), German hänfen ("hempen"). More at hemp.

Full definition of hempen

Adjective

1. Made of hemp.
• 1590: Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queen (vol. 1)In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree,
  About his neck an hempen rope he weares,
  That with his glistring armes does ill agree;
• 1891: Arthur Conan Doyle, The White CompanyA quiet land is this -- a land where the slow-moving Basque, with his flat biretta-cap, his red sash and his hempen sandals, tills his scanty farm ...
2. Related to hempen ropes, i.e., to hanging as capital punishment.
• 1904: Rafael Sabatini, The Tavern Night... but rid himself also of the companionship of this ruffianly Sir Crispin, to whom no doubt a hempen justice would be meted.