noose

 
Pronunciation: /nuːs/

noun

  • a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and used to trap animals or hang people: he began to choke as the noose tightened about his throat a hangman’s noose figurative the West is exploring ways to tighten the economic noose
  • (the noose) death by hanging: he earned a reprieve from the noose

verb

[with object]
  • put a noose on (someone): she was noosed and hooded, then strangled by the executioner
  • catch (an animal) with a noose: the animal was eventually noosed and sedated by dog handlers
  • form (a rope) into a noose: Gomez had noosed a coil of rope around his neck

Phrases

put one's head in a noose

bring about one’s own downfall: if we pursue this idea, we could be putting our heads in a noose

Origin:

late Middle English: probably via Old French no(u)s from Latin nodus 'knot'