# hank

/ˈhæŋk/ (US) · /hˈæŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hank
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a coil of yarn or rope

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a coil or loop of rope, yarn, or string.

For teachers: a coil or loop of something, especially twine, yarn, or rope, often sold as a specific length or weight.

- She bought a large hank of blue wool to knit a winter sweater.
- The artisan carefully wound the hand-dyed silk into a hank, ensuring no tangles would form during the shipping process.

Usage: Often used as a unit of measurement in the textile industry.

### 2. nautical ring

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a metal or plastic ring used to attach a sail to a wire on a boat.

For teachers: a ring or shackle that secures a staysail to its stay, allowing the sail to glide smoothly up and down.

- The sailor checked each hank to make sure the sail would slide easily.
- Before the race, the crew inspected every bronze hank on the jib to ensure they were not corroded by the salt spray.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized nautical term; learners will likely only encounter it in sailing contexts.

## Examples

- He clipped each hank onto the wire before raising the sail.
- The sailor noticed a broken hank on the jib, which made it difficult to lower the sail quickly during the storm.
- Modern yachts often replace traditional bronze hanks with low-friction plastic versions or furling systems to simplify sail handling for a smaller crew.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.