What does hankie mean?
Hankie is an informal, chiefly North American word for a small square of cloth used to wipe the nose or face. It is a shortened and simplified form of handkerchief, and its alternative spelling hanky is at least as common in everyday American English. Hankies are traditionally made from soft cotton or linen and may be plain, patterned, or decorative, although modern versions can also be disposable. The word often carries a domestic, practical, or slightly nostalgic tone: it can suggest an everyday household object, a child’s accessory, or an older-fashioned manner of carrying a cloth. It is useful in conversation when describing a handkerchief informally without sounding overly formal. In British English, handkerchief remains the usual term, while hankie is understood but less prominent.
nounA small square of cloth, usually cotton or linen, used for wiping the nose or face. An informal, chiefly North American form of handkerchief.
- A small square of cloth, especially cotton or linen, used for wiping the nose or face.
"She reached into her pocket for a hankie when she started sneezing."
"He folded the damp hankie and put it back in his pocket."
"The baby clutched a tiny hankie while the family waited outside."
The regular plural is hankies.
"She packed several hankies for the trip."
Hankie is a pocket-sized piece of everyday history: a clipped word for a cloth that has accompanied people for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hankie come from?
Hankie is an informal shortening of handkerchief, appearing in different spellings that reflect the tendency to clip familiar words in English. The related form hanky is a spelling variant rather than a separate etymological development. Together, these words descend from the older compound handkerchief, whose history ultimately belongs to the wider tradition of cloth coverings for the head and face.
How hankie is actually used
The word is informal and familiar, and is more common in North American speech than in standard British English, where handkerchief is generally preferred.
Easily confused with hankie
Hanky and hankie are variant spellings of the same informal word; hanky is the more common spelling in American English.
Handkerchief is the full, standard term, while hankie is a familiar shortened and simplified form.