Hank
A loose loop of yarn wound in a ring, the form in which yarn is dyed and sold to weavers before it is wound onto bobbins.
Also: skein, lacchi
A hank is yarn wound off in a large loop and tied loosely in a few places. This open form lets dye and water reach every part of the thread, so yarn is washed, boiled and dyed as hanks. The weaver buys or collects hanks of cotton, silk or zari and then winds them onto bobbins or pirns, or onto a warping frame, before use. The hank is also a unit of length for cotton yarn, which is how the English cotton count is defined. In a weaving household, winding hanks is a daily job.