hanky

or han·kie

[ hang-kee ]

noun

, plural han·kies.

1. a handkerchief.

hanky

/ ˈhæŋkɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   short for handkerchief

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky¹

First recorded in 1890–95; han(d)k(erchief) + -y ²

Example Sentences

He pulled a white hanky from his breast pocket and dabbed away a tear after a prolonged embrace from his daughter, Ashley, who delivered a loving introduction.

From Los Angeles Times

Wilder’s fortuitous meeting of “Saturday Night Live” cast member Gilda Radner when they co-starred in the 1982 action-comedy “Hanky Panky” led the unlikely soulmates to wed and do two more big-screen pairings: “The Woman in Red” and “Haunted Honeymoon,” both scripted and directed by Wilder.

From Los Angeles Times

For many, the next name to come to mind when thinking of Wilder's is Gilda Radner, a member of "Saturday Night Live's" original ensemble who Wilder met and fell in love with while co-staring in Sidney Poitier's "Hanky Panky" in 1981, marrying a few years later and remaining together until her death from ovarian cancer in 1989.

From Salon

Webb recalled later to the Daily Mail: external-link “Every time he went for his pocket and you thought he was going to book somebody he pulled out his hanky, blew his nose and said, ‘Get on with it, will you?'”

From BBC

“I have an absolute disregard for self-preservation. I will do anything,” said Larry Donnelly, 42, who owns a St. Augustine pressure-washing business and serves as captain of the five-man team Hanky Spanky.

From Seattle Times