hank

noun

• 1a coil or skein of yarn, hair, rope, or other material:a thick hank of her blonde hair

• 2a measurement of the length per unit mass of cloth or yarn, which varies according to the type being measured. For example, a hank is equal to 840 yards for cotton yarn and 560 yards for worsted.

• 3 Sailing a ring for securing a staysail to the stay.