A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Hank, v. [ME. (chiefly north.) hank, hanc, hannken (Layamon), ON. hanka (Icel., Norw. hanka, Dan. hanke) to coil.] tr. To catch as if in a noose, to ensnare (chiefly transf. and fig.); to entangle; to make fast or tie up with a loop; to intertwine, interlink; to entwine, enwreath. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 1354.
Strywe furth … For to confund oure ennymy, & … wyne Fra hyme that he hankis in syne ?1438 Alex. ii. 8917.
The folk of Grece … Hes shreudly hanked [F. atrappé] the Bauderaine a1500 Henr. Fab. 1514.
The lyoun, … Fell in the net, and hankit fute and heid … couth mak na remeid a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 462.
Falset is faith, quhilk herd hankis his hand Ib. 998.
My pvnist spreit … Quhilk Ded hankis herd in his handis 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 119.
We … will not hank thame be the heid, Quha hes preparit the swordis for our nek(2) 1513 Doug. vii. ii. 8.
At the schor … Thar navy can thai ankyr fast and hank 1631 Orkney Bishop Ct. 80.
Ane young yew … quhilk he took … and hankit with ane sheip of his awin(3)14.. Reg. Maj. xxxi (Adv. MS. 25.4.15 fol. 13).
In aulde tym quhen cunand was maid thai hankit alwais thar handis to gidder to strik in festynyng ... of thar connandis(4)1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 31/236.
Into that tre still grene your hair that hanks [F. En l'arbre ... qui vos cheueux enlace]
