Hank : A fastener attached to the luff of the headsail that attaches the headsail to the forestay. Typical designs include a bronze or plastic hook with a spring-operated gate, or a strip of cloth webbing with a snap fastener.
Brethrencoast, Glossary of Nautical Terms - Talk like a pirate, Sylvan Dell Publishing, USA 2000. Brethren of the Coast is a non-profit site which was created solely for those interested in 'Piracy of Old' on the high seas. It is NOT associated with any organization or reinactment group by the same name. This just me personal website on the subject. http://brethrencoast.com/Glossary.html, (Mrtm - Amer) {574}