[See JACK KETCH.] The hangman. Hence Ketch v. trans., to hang; Ketchcraft, the hangman’s craft.

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1681.  T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 14. ’Squire Ketch rejoices as much to hear of a new Vox, as an old Sexton does to hear of a new Delight. Ibid., No. 18. Well! If he has a mind to be Ketch’d, speed him say I.

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1706.  [E. Ward], Wooden World Dissected (1708), 80. For a running Noose, this new Ketch is but a Fool to him.

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1840.  Fraser’s Mag., XXI. 210. Ignorant of many of the secrets of ketchcraft.

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1859.  Matsell, Vocab., s.v. (Farmer), I’ll ketch you; I’ll hang you.

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