hanky

American

[hang-kee] / ˈhæŋ ki /

Or hankie

noun

plural

hankies

a handkerchief.

hanky British

/ ˈhæŋkɪ /

noun

informal short for handkerchief

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hanky

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I have an absolute disregard for self-preservation. I will do anything,” said Larry Donnelly, 42, who owns a St. Augustine pressure-washing business and serves as captain of the five-man team Hanky Spanky.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

Chief executive of the group, Reg Hanky, took over the business in 2007.

From BBC • Aug. 13, 2023

I wasn’t in Miami waving the White Hanky.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2022

The Hanky Panky is a more serious proposition.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 2, 2019

“He’s eating his words, Hanky, don’t you see?” he observed behind his hand to his other chum.

From The Big Five Motorcycle Boys on the Battle Line Or, With the Allies in France by Marlow, Ralph

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023