Hank

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A diminutive of the male given name Henry.
  2. A diminutive of the male given name Hankin (a medieval form of John).
noun
  1. A coil or loop of something, especially twine, yarn, or rope.
  2. A ring or shackle that secures a staysail to its stay and allows the sail to glide smoothly up and down.
  3. Doubt, difficulty.
  4. Mess, tangle.
  5. A rope or withe for fastening a gate.
  6. Hold; influence.
  7. A throw in which a wrestler turns his left side to his opponent, twines his left leg about his opponent's right leg from the inside, and throws him backward.
verb
  1. To form into hanks.
  2. To fasten with a rope, as a gate.

Pronunciation

/ˈhæŋk/ [ˈhæŋk] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Hank.wav /ˈheɪ̯ŋk/ [ˈheɪ̯ŋk] /ˈhɛ̃ŋk/ [ˈhɛ̃ŋk] [ˈheɪ̯ŋk] ~ /ˈhɛ̃ŋk/

Word forms

Hank Hanks hanking hanked

Etymology

From Middle English hank, of Scandinavian/North Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse hǫnk (compare haki (“something bent”)), related to Proto-Germanic *hakô (“hook”). Akin to Old English hangian (“to hang”). First known use: 14th century.

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