“crack-hemp”LanguageAct 5,Scene 1Line 39An explanation of “crack-hemp” in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Biondello But who is here? Mine old master Vincentio! Slang for a criminal, someone who’s likely to end up cracking (straining) the hemp (rope) of the hangman’s noose.
