Etymology Dictionary

HANK,  a parcel of two or more skeins of yarn, tied together.  (Scand.)   Cotgrave translates O.F. bobine by 'a skane or hanke of gold or silver thread.'   Cf. prov. E. hank, a skein, a loop to fasten a gate, a handle (Halliwell).   The rare M.E. verb hanken, to fetter, occurs in Cursor Mundi, 16044.—Icel. hanki, the hasp or clasp of a chest; hönk, hangr, a hank, coil; hang, a coil of a snake. + Dan. hank, a handle, ear of a vessel. + Swed. hank, a string, tie-band. + G. henkel, a handle, ring, ear, hook.   β. The orig. sense seems to be 'a loop' for fastening things together, also a loose ring to hang a thing up by; and the form hangr shews the connection with Icel. hanga, to hang, also to hang on to, cleave to; whence the sense of fastening.   Cf. G. henken, to hang (a man).   See Hang, Hanker.