hang-by en · NOUN
Etymology
From hang + by.
Meanings
-
(derogatory, obsolete) A dependent; a hanger-on.
; I am not afraid of you nor them neither, your hang-by's here. You must have your poets, and your potlings; your solados and foolados; to follow you up and down the city
1598, Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hang-bys | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| hang-bies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |