hanky

American  

[hang-kee] / ˈhæŋ ki /

Or hankie

noun

• hankies
  plural

1. a handkerchief.

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hanky British  

/ ˈhæŋkɪ /

noun

1. informal short for handkerchief

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hankies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of hanky

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hanky hankies

He helps her get a great night’s sleep at his place, no hanky panky, and then realizes an exclusive interview with her highness is a potential gold mine.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 29, 2020

She drops a bag of groceries on to her kitchen table, and reaches for a clear plastic cup, covered by a white hanky and sealed with a hairband.

From The Guardian ● May 3, 2019

I considered taking out my own hanky to wipe her face, but then I remembered her explicit request not to be touched.

From The New Yorker ● Jan. 7, 2019

His advice: “Have a hanky at the ready.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2017

Mrs. Weidenbach’s hand plung; d into her bosom and drew up a lacy hanky.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

I ask what kind of problem leaves him reaching for Herbie hankies.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2025

Mpofu’s tender and regretful “Addio, del passato” was heart-wrenching enough to make operagoers reach for their hankies.

From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2023

So, come for the boxing, yes — but bring plenty of hankies, too.

From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2023

I spent several clammy seconds refolding the letter and reassembling the remaining contents exactly as they had been — death note at the bottom, hankies, silver dollars and baseball on top.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2021

They dropped their huge purple flowers every so often, one at a time, like ladies dropping their hankies to get your attention.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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