hanky
Americannoun
-
hankies
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
To say he makes the most of the material isn’t quite doing it justice – Gilgun manages to make a ballgown out of a snotty hanky, and seems to have enormous fun doing it.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 22, 2020
It’s a good sign that the new administration has instituted a fraud check system to try to detect future hanky panky.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 4, 2019
His advice: “Have a hanky at the ready.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2017
We did this about three times, and there was no physical contact, no hanky panky, just old-fashioned dating, conversation and dining.
From The Verge ● Sep. 11, 2016
Then he folded the cloth up neatly, gave his nose one more confident swipe, and jammed the hanky back in his pocket.
From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant
The 1970 film, based on the novel by Eric Segal, brought hankies out in cinemas across the world, and made international stars of O'Neal and Ali MacGraw.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2023
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
Maybe bring hankies, though don’t look for speeches about climate change and global warming.
From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2021
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
All of this was heady news of a world far removed from hankies and thimbles, patiently delivered to me under a tree amidst the drowsing bees and nodding wildflowers.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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