hank

¹

[ hangk ]

noun

1. a skein, as of thread or yarn.
2. a definite length of thread or yarn:

   A hank of cotton yarn measures 840 yards.

3. a coil, knot, or loop:

   a hank of hair.

4. Nautical. a ring, link, or shackle for securing the luff of a staysail or jib to its stay or the luff or head of a gaff sail to the mast or gaff.

verb (used with object)

1. Nautical. to fasten (a sail) by means of hanks.

Hank

²

[ hangk ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Henry.

hank

/ hæŋk /

noun

1. a loop, coil, or skein, as of rope, wool, or yarn
2. nautical a ringlike fitting that can be opened to admit a stay for attaching the luff of a sail
3. a unit of measurement of cloth, yarn, etc, such as a length of 840 yards (767 m) of cotton or 560 yards (512 m) of worsted yarn

verb

1. tr nautical to attach (a sail) to a stay by hanks

Other Words From

• un·hanked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hank¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old Norse hǫnk hank, coil, skein, clasp; akin to hang

Word History and Origins

Origin of hank¹

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hanka to coil, Swedish hank string

Example Sentences

Ex-AIG CEO Maurice ‘Hank’ Greenberg is in court seeking $40 billion from the government over its massive bailout.

From The Daily Beast

And sitting down is a bald man who looks like Hank from Breaking Bad.

From The Daily Beast

Hank was not hit but the U.S. soldier was shot multiple times in his legs.

From The Daily Beast

"Palmer has earned the right to be a hero here," Orioles general manager Hank Peters once said.

From The Daily Beast

Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Coleman Young—Wheeler wrote all their autobigraphies.

From The Daily Beast

I held up my two hands and she put the hank over them, and went on talking about her and her husband's matters.

From Project Gutenberg

She went and got the lump of lead and fetched it back, and brought along a hank of yarn which she wanted me to help her with.

From Project Gutenberg

Smith and Godby were on one Hank, and Wheeler, cautiously feeling his way, hung dangerously upon the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Hank Butts sat midway down on the deck-house, yawning as though he would like to turn in.

From Project Gutenberg

Skipper Tom Halstead now came forward, though he did not take the wheel from Hank.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• curve
• flourish