What does "hank" mean?

Hank: A rope or withe for fastening a gate. [Prov. Eng.]

Additional senses

  1. 2.Hold; influence. When the devil hath got such a hank over him. Bp. Sanderson.
  2. 3.(Naut.) A ring or eye of rope, wood, or iron, attached to the edge of a sail and running on a stay.
  3. 4.Etym: [OE. hanken.] To fasten with a rope, as a gate. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
  4. 5.To form into hanks.

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