mark: the value of which piece was settled, by a proclamation of James I., at 13-1/2d.]
1602. Decker, Honest Whore, Pt. II., in Wks. (1873) ii., 171. Why should I eate hempe-seed at the hangman's thirteene-pence halfe-penny ordinary?
1659. Hangman's Last Will (Rump Song quoted in Notes and Queries, 2 S. xi., 316). For half thirteen-pence half-penny wages, I would have cleared out all the town cages, And you should have been rid of all the sages. I and my gallows groan.
1678. Butler, Hudibras, Pt. III., c. 2. To find us pillories and cart's-tails, Or hangman's wages.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, sv. Hangman's wages, thirteenpence half-penny, which according to the vulgar tradition was thus allotted, one shilling for the execution, and three halfpence for the rope.
Hang-slang about, verb. phr.
(common).—To abuse; to slang
(q.v.); to Billingsgate (g.v.).
Hank, subs. (old colloquial).—1.
A tie; a hold; an advantage; a
difficulty. [In a hank = in
trouble].
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. He has a hank upon him, or the Ascendant over him.
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.
1847. Robb, Squatter Life, p. 98. I did see a creatur' once, named Sofy Mason . . . that I tuk an orful hankerin' arter.
1878. Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 'Spontaneous Me,' 90 (ed. 1884). The hairy wild-bee that murmurs and hankers up and down.
Hankin, subs. (commercial).—The
trick of putting off bad work for
good. [Cf., To play hankey,
or To play hanky-panky.]
Hanktelo, subs. (old).—See quots.
1593. Nashe, Strange Newes (Grosart, Wks., ii., 251). Is the Astrologicaall Discourse a better booke than Pierce Pennilesse? Gabriel Hangtelow saies it is?
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v Hanktelo, a silly Fellow, a meer Cods-head.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Hanky-Panky, subs. (common).—(1)
Legerdemain; whence (2)
trickery; underhand (q.v.)
work; cheating; any manner of
