Hanging is the suspension of a person by a
noose or
ligature around the neck. The
Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to
crucifixion and death by
impalement in which the body would remain "hanging". Hanging has been a common method of
capital punishment since
medieval times, and is the official execution method in numerous countries and regions. In this specialised meaning of the common word
hang, the past and past participle is
hanged instead of
hung.