hanky

Related to hanky: hankey

hanky

A handkerchief (a small square of fabric often used like a tissue). I'm sure Reginald has a hanky you can use.

hanky-panky

1. Sexual activity, especially when considered inappropriate or done in secret. It's an open secret in the office that a lot of hanky-panky goes on in the storage facility.
2. Devious, deceitful, or suspicious activity. Regulators suspected some hanky-panky going on between the governor's office and the retail developers.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hanky

and hankie (ˈhæŋki)
n. a handkerchief, especially if lacy and feminine. Do you have a hanky I can borrow?

hanky-panky

(ˈhæŋkiˈpæŋki)
1. n. funny business; deceitfulness. There’s some hanky-panky going on in the treasurer’s office.
2. n. sexual play; sexual misconduct. (see also mifky-pifky (in the bushes).) There’s some hanky-panky going on in the storeroom.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • hanky-panky
  • hankie
  • pardon my French
  • excuse my French
  • excuse/pardon my French
  • french
  • potty mouth
  • toilet mouth
  • bend the law
  • do you mind
References in periodicals archive
More unusually, Brenda owns a Fulton's Military Hanky. Patented in 1885, it instructs the soldiers on how to assemble and dismantle their Martini-Henry rifle as well as giving lists of bugle calls, kit, semaphore and all manner of other useful information.
Nothing to be sneezed at
Paul, and Carl Pohlad, owner of the Minnesota Twins baseball team, held a "ceremonial waving" of the 1991 version of the Homer Hanky at a recent press conference.
Twin Cities Homer Hanky is back
Not only is the hotel a recreation of a former way of life, its location also places it close to Manila's heritage and culture sites like Intramuros and the National Museum," Hanky adds.
Nostalgic sanctuary opens in Pasay City
A AS your brother-in-law hasn't given you any indication that he expects 'hanky panky' it's likely your fears are groundless.
Just Joan: All at sea over hanky panky
Peugeot engineers will hold a hanky over the exhausts of a 406 petrol model and a 607 with the latest high technology diesel engine, to demonstrate which fuel spews out the most pollution.
Peugeot applies the hanky test; Diesel lobby puts its arguments
As rams go, Pankymoor Prelude is almost the daddy of them all and should have been called Hanky Panky.
ROMEO RAMBO
HANKY PANKY (Aidan O'Brien) HANKY Panky may have failed to win in two starts but she will surely make it third-time lucky next time.
Watch out for ..
I was filling up my hanky with all sorts after Albertino Essers' 3-1 victory over The Count.
Other: Darts: SPORT ON TV - pick of the day; Live darts BBC2, 1.40pm
There's lots of scope for colour with humorous takes on petty jealousies and outrage in the bordello scenes but take a big hanky for the death-bed scene.
The dance of romance
Hops in the bitter irritate the lining of his nose and after just a pint and a half he is constantly reaching for his hanky.
ALE-ERGIC TO BITTER!; Pubs ban sneezer
Sharleen ties together the ends of a hanky to make a parachute for one Spider-Man fan, right.
Sharleen's motherly ways get a flying start
In no time, Mother had soaked through her linen hanky and was borrowing balled-up Kleenex from her daughters.
The gift of tears
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Hanky Panky, a Galileo halfsister to Giant's Causeway, boasts a rating of 95 after some creditable performances last season.
DANZERINI'S SO DAZZLING; IRISH LATEST A LOOK TODAY'S LIMERICK CARD; Halford's ace to star on Students' Day
And when Mark Williams picked his nose and wiped the bogeys on the wall as he prepared to enter the arena yesterday, it's because he wanted a hanky.
SPORT ON TV: Pick Of The Day
-USE a hanky if you sneeze to avoid infecting others.
Winter health: HOW TO AVOID ALL THOSE BUGS; OUR SURVIVAL GUIDE WILL HELP YOU TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF LIVING IN BRRR-ITAIN..