hempen

English

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

• (Canada) IPA: /ˈhɛmpən/

Adjective

hempen (not comparable)

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 Company

     A 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.