■ noun
1》 a coil or skein of wool, hair, or other material.
2》 a measurement of the length per unit mass of cloth or yarn (equal to 840 yards for cotton yarn and 560 yards for worsted).
3》 Sailing a ring for securing a staysail to the stay.
Origin
ME: from ON hỏnk ; cf. Swed. ~ 'string' and Dan. ~ 'handle'.