hanky

or han·kie

[ hang-kee ]

noun

, plural han·kies.

1. a handkerchief.

hanky

/ ˈhæŋkɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   short for handkerchief

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky¹

First recorded in 1890–95; han(d)k(erchief) + -y ²

Example Sentences

This online open-mic event is a chance for participants to sign up and share true stories of consensual encounters from the days before a hanky was a cheap pandemic precaution.

From Washington Blade

Meanwhile, What Kind of Hanky-Panky Is Going on Over at the Department of Health and Human Services?

From The Daily Beast

Those who are fasting must abstain from eating, drinking (even water), smoking, and hanky-panky of any sorts.

From The Daily Beast

Clarkson wears four-inch Gucci sandals, a chic, black, off-the-rack Italian dress and red Hanky Panky underwear (so she says).

From The Daily Beast

I knew from other reading that no firm had been more deeply involved in pre-1929 financial hanky-panky than it had.

From The Daily Beast

I remember being shocked not by the explicit carnality but by the confusion and hanky-panky, and the unhappiness.

From The Daily Beast

These scientists have worked miracles before which those of the ancient priests and magicians are mere tricks of hanky-panky.

From Project Gutenberg

I brought a hanky Im hemstitching for Mother in school and worked on it a little while in between lunch and class.

From Project Gutenberg

If you play any hanky-panky tricks—look here, Da Souza, I'll kill you, sure!

From Project Gutenberg

Some hanky-panky with regimental money; every one knows how India plays the devil with a man's sense of right and wrong.

From Project Gutenberg

My head had been sewn up, also my lip, and a nice tight bandage replaced the hanky.

From Project Gutenberg