hangman

Etymology

hang + -man

noun

1. (countable) An executioner responsible for hanging criminals.
2. Someone responsible for hanging pictures and other artworks in a gallery, museum etc.
   I also asked some Royal Academicians to view it, viz. Northcote, Cosway, &c. who approved of it much: it is well composed, and beautifully coloured; but the hangmen at the Exhibition have not hung it in a conspicuous situation; it is placed in an ante-room, and pretty high […]. 1828, JT Smith, Nollekens and His Times, Century Hutchinson, published 1986, page 213
3. (uncountable, games) A guessing game where one has to guess the word an opponent is thinking of by guessing one letter at a time, and involving the gradual drawing of a stick figure hanging from the gallows.