stretch hemp

Ropes of the gallows would often be made from hemp.

stretch hemp (third-person singular simple present stretches hemp, present participle stretching hemp, simple past and past participle stretched hemp)

1. To be hanged.
   • 1882, William Rattle Plum, The Military Telegraph During the Civil War in the United States:

     If that fellow comes up here, he will see us; if we let him go the Johnnies will have us, and inside of twenty-four hours we will have been tried by a drumhead court-martial and the whole six of us sentenced to stretch hemp. Now, it is better, in my opinion, that he should stretch hemp than we six; so, if he comes up here, I'll put this noose around his neck and the first chance we get we will jump him into the river.