He has a hank on him; i.e. an ascendancy over him, or a hold upon him. A Smithfield hank; an ox, rendered furious by overdriving and barbarous treatment.
See bull hankers.
·noun Hold; influence. II. Hank ·vt To form into hanks. III. Hank ·vt To fasten with a rope, as a ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
In beating against the wind each board is thus sometimes denoted. Also, expressive of two ships whic...
The Sailor's Word-Book