1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. He has a hank upon him; He … will make him do what he pleases.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He has a hank on him, i.e., an ascendant over him, or a hold upon him: A Smithfield hank = An ox rendered furious by over driving and barbarous treatment.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Hank. To know something about a man that is disreputable. He has a hank on the bloke, whereby he sucks honey when he chooses, he knows something about the man, and therefore induces him to give him money when he chooses.
2. (common).—A spell of rest; an easy time.
1888. Sporting Life, 7 Dec. So quiet was the first round that the ire of the company was raised, and they called out, ‘No hank!’
Verb (common).—To worry; to bait; to drive from pillar to post.
Hanker, verb (old: now recognised).—To desire eagerly; to fret after; to long or pine for: generally with ‘after.’ Also, Hankering (subs.) = an importunate and irritating longing.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hanker after, to Long or wish much for.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To hanker after anything, to have a longing after or for it.