Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. in pl., the testicles.

1622		Rowley & Shakespeare Birth of Merlin (1662) II i: He has a fair Sword, but his Hangers are faln.
c.1904		A. Crowley Snowdrops from a Curate’s Garden 33: I banged with my hangers upon the perineum.

2. the flaccid penis.

1788

Harris’s List of Covent-Garden Ladies 32: The stoutest man cannot stand long before her; many a fine weapon has she made a mere hanger, and the most stubborn steel has melted in her sheath.

3. (UK Und.) a sword [SE hanger, the strap that suspends a sword].

1672		J. Phillips Maronides (1678) VI 46: He laid his hand upon his hilt / [...] / Defend me now, quo he, dear Hanger.
1675		Proc. Old Bailey 19 Feb. n.p.: Morning early comes in three men into the roome in Vizards and a light with them, with Weapons, the one having an Hanger, another an Holbert, and the third a Pistol.
1685		Proc. Old Bailey 29 Apr. n.p.: Robert Elton Indicted for Stealing from Samuel Smith, one Knife one silver Tobacco-stopper one bundle of Keys, 18 l. in Money, one Silver Cup, one Hanger.
[1687		Proc. Old Bailey 6 Apr. n.p.: Nor were the Sword and Hanger afterward taken disagreable to those they had at the time of the Robery committed].
1691		Proc. Old Bailey 15 Jan. n.p.: The Deceased drew his Hanger and made at him, upon which the Prisoner drew his Rapier in his own Defence.
1713		Proc. Old Bailey 25 Feb. n.p.: [They] were indicted for the Murder of Powel Revel [...] he for giving him a Mortal Wound with a Hanger on the left side of his Belly near the Navel, of the breadth of one Inch, and the depth of three Inches.
1729		Proc. Old Bailey 9 July 2/1: William Franklin [...] came arm’d with Pistols and a Hanger, and forc’d her in a violent Manner up Stairs.
1736		Proc. Old Bailey 8 Dec. 23/1: One of them struck me on the Breast with his Fist, and bid me deliver; the other immediately seiz'd my Hanger, drew it out of the Scaboard,[sic] and held the Point of it to my Breast.
1738		Ordinary of Newgate Account 8 Nov. 🌐 I don’t fear any Highwayman, for I have a good Hanger here, and a Brace of Pistols.
1744		Ordinary of Newgate Account 8 June 17/1: Accordingly they set out from thence about 8 o'Clock in the Evening, arm'd with Hangers and Pistols for their black Purpose.
1750		Proc. Old Bailey 30 May 66/2: The man however was knock’d down, but he recovered and ran about 40 yards, follow’d by another man with a hanger or sword in his hand, who knock’d him down, and after that struck him four or five blows.
1767		Proc. Old Bailey 15 July 234/1: He [...] had a naked hanger in his left bosom, I saw the handle of it; this hanger I had seen hanging naked in Mr. Cartwright's parlour.
1771		Proc. Old Bailey 15 May 284/2: He lifted up a cutlass, or hanger, and swore he would cut me down if I did not deliver my money.
1781		Hicky’s Bengal Gaz. 14-21 July n.p.: LOST [...] a Steel mounted Hanger with a single Guard.
1781		Proc. Old Bailey 11 July 333/1: The other door of the carriage was opened, and there were two fellows at it, both armed with pistols and cutlasses, or hangers, threatening to pull me out, and to cut me to pieces.
1796		Proc. Old Bailey 13 Jan. 166/1: He struggled very much; I bid him stand still, he would not, I had a hanger in my hand, I struck at him, and cut him, I meant to strike him with the flat side of it.
1805		J. Davis Post Captain (1813) 151: I will have my hanger new mounted.
1831		Navy at Home II 103: His hanger indeed knocked off his hat.
1843		Bellew Memoirs of a Griffin I 38: A hanger banging against his heels [...] a tarnished swab (epaulette) on his shoulder.

4. in pl., gloves, esp. when unworn but held in the hand for ornamental purposes.

1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

5. (Aus./US) in pl., the female breasts.

1968		in DARE.
1976		R. Price Blood Brothers 13: Chubby took in her jugs again. Nice big hangers.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 528: [...] since ca. 1930.
1994		discussion group 🌐 [Description of erotic picture] Heavy hangers [HDAS].

6. (US Und.) a wallet protruding from a pocket or purse, thus ripe for pickpocketing.

1933		Ersine Und. and Prison Sl. 42: hanger, n. A purse that is suspended by a strap.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 112: hanger A woman’s purse.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 90/2: Hanger. (Pool-hall loan word) 1. A woman’s purse on a strap, easily severed and stolen.
1970		R. Fabian Anatomy of Crime 193: Hanger-Snatcher: Professional handbag-snatcher.

7. (Aus.) a loafer, an idler [SE hanger-on].

1998

R.G. Barrett Mud Crab Boogie (2013) [ebook] Another hanger from the baths came walking up from the pool.