[f. STRANGLE v. + -ER1.] One who or something that strangles. lit. and fig. Strangler’s grip = strangle-hold (STRANGLE sb. 4).
1552. Huloet, Strangler, suffocator.
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. My selfe will be thy strangler, unmatcht slave.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. vi. 130. The band that seemes to tye their friendship together, will bee the very strangler of their Amity.
1753. [see STRANGLEABLE].
1844. P. Parley’s Ann., V. 355. Though … the cords of the strangler and the sword of the headsman be ready for me.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 9 Oct., 2/1. The strangler’s grip is another trick which some men practise, though not very often with success, as the police know it and watch for it.
b. Comb.: strangler tree U.S., a tree of the genus Clusia, growing usually as a parasite on some other tree.
1909. Century Dict., Suppl.
