hanking

noun

1. a skein, as of thread or yarn.
2. a definite length of thread or yarn: A hank of cotton yarn measures 840 yards.
3. a coil, knot, or loop: a hank of hair.
4. Nautical. a ring, link, or shackle for securing the luff of a staysail or jib to its stay or the luff or head of a gaff sail to the mast or gaff.

verb (used with object)

5. Nautical. to fasten (a sail) by means of hanks.

noun

1. a loop, coil, or skein, as of rope, wool, or yarn
2. nautical a ringlike fitting that can be opened to admit a stay for attaching the luff of a sail
3. a unit of measurement of cloth, yarn, etc, such as a length of 840 yards (767 m) of cotton or 560 yards (512 m) of worsted yarn

verb

4. (tr) nautical to attach (a sail) to a stay by hanks

n.

late 13c., probably from a Scandinavian source, e.g. Old Norse honk, hank “clasp, hank,” related to hang (v.).