Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to tease, to bait, to persecute.

1889		R.W. Coan ‘In The Future’ 🎵 Though I’m not a jealous man, I’m bothered if I can / Stand the young man lodger ‘hanking’ with my wife.
1890		Sporting Times 5 Apr. 1/5: Which d’ye think I’m a goin’ to vote for? Why, you’re ankin’, ain’t yer?
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 35: Hank, to know something disreputable of a man.

2. to hesitate, to draw back.

1899		C. Rook Hooligan Nights 98: When a boy gets hanked by soft-heartedness he is better off the business.
1943		R. Llewellyn None But the Lonely Heart 40: He liked getting in there with them, instead of hanking about outside.