The Canonical Hanky Code

The Hanky Code is a traditional form of signalling to others what your sexual preferences and interests are. Gay men used this code to communicate with each other in the noisy and distracting environment of gay bars. Although not as widely used these days, it is still a worthwhile resource and is, among those who know, a great conversation starter.

Worn on LeftColorWorn on Right
heavy SM topBLACKheavy SM bottom
bondage topGREYfit to be tied!
wants headLT BLUEcocksucker
69erROBIN'S EGG BLUEanything but 69ing
copMEDIUM BLUEcopsucker
fuckerNAVY BLUEfuckee
pilot/flight attendantAIRFORCE BLUElikes flyboys
sailorLT BLUE/WHITE STRIPElookin' for salty seamen
cock & ball torturerTEAL BLUEcock & ball torturee
fist fuckerREDfist fuckee
cutsMAROONbleeds
2-handed fisterDARK RED2-handed fistee
dildo fuckerLIGHT PINKdildo fuckee
tit torturerDARK PINKtit torturee
into navel worshippersMAUVEhas a navel fetish
suck my pitsMAGENTAarmpit freak
piercerPURPLEpiercee
likes drag queensLAVENDERdrag queen
pisser/WSYELLOWpiss freak
spitsPALE YELLOWdrool crazy
hung 8" or moreMUSTARDwants a big one
two looking for oneGOLDone looking for two
anything anytimeORANGEnothing now (cruising)
two tons o' funAPRICOTchubby chaser
suck my toesCORALshrimper
a cowboyRUSThis horse
spankerFUSCHIAspankee
hustler (for rent)KELLY GREENjohn (looking to buy)
daddyHUNTER GREENorphan boy looking for daddy
military topOLIVE DRABmilitary bottom
dines off tricks (food)LIME GREENdinner plate
rimmerBEIGErimmee
scat topBROWNscat bottom
uncutBROWN LACElikes uncut
cutBROWN SATINlikes cut
latex fetish topCHARCOALlatex fetish bottom
actually owns a suitGREY FLANNELlikes men in suits
beat my meatWHITEI'll do us both
milkerHOLSTEINmilkee
comes in scumbagsCREAMsucks it out
safe sex topBLACK/WHITE CHECKsafe sex bottom
shaverRED/WHITE STRIPEshavee
furry bearRED/BLACK STRIPElikes bears
likes white bottomsWHITE LACElikes white tops
likes black bottomsBLACK/WHITE STRIPElikes black tops
likes latino bottomsBROWN/WHITE STRIPElikes latino tops
likes asian bottomsYELLOW/WHITE STRIPElikes asian tops
likes white suckersLT BLUE/WHITE DOTSlikes to suck whites
likes black suckersLT BLUE/BLACK DOTSlikes to suck blacks
likes latino suckersLT BLUE/BROWN DOTSlikes to suck latinos
likes asian suckersLT BLUE/YELLOW DOTSlikes to suck asians
park sex topRED/WHITE GINGHAMpark sex bottom
headmasterBROWN CORDUROYstudent
wears boxer shortsPAISLEYlikes boxer shorts
bestialist topFURbestialist bottom
likes muscleboy bottomsGOLD LAMElikes muscleboy tops
starfuckerSILVER LAMEcelebrity
has/takes videosBLACK VELVETwill perform for the camera
voyeur (likes to watch)WHITE VELVETwill put on a show
has tattoosLEOPARDlikes tattoos
smokes cigarsTANlikes cigars
cuddlerTEDDY BEARcuddlee
chickenKEWPIE DOLLchicken hawk
wears a dirty jockDIRTY JOCKSTRAPsucks it clean
tearoom top (pours)DOILYtearoom bottom (drinks)
outdoor sex topMOSQUITO NETTINGoutdoor sex bottom
has drugsZIPLOC BAGlooking for drugs
bartenderCOCKTAIL NAPKINbar groupie
stinksKLEENEXsniffs
has a homeKEYS IN FRONThas a car
needs a place to stayKEYS IN BACKlooking for a ride
likes to nibbleHOUNDSTOOTHwill be bitten
skinhead topUNION JACKskinhead bottom
new in townCALICOtourists welcome
bathhouse topTERRYCLOTHbathhouse bottom
hosting an orgyWHITE/MULTICOLOR DOTSlooking for an orgy
Color
Worn on left / worn on right
BLACK
heavy SM top / heavy SM bottom
GREY
bondage top / fit to be tied!
LT BLUE
wants head / cocksucker
ROBIN'S EGG BLUE
69er / anything but 69ing
MEDIUM BLUE
cop / copsucker
NAVY BLUE
fucker / fuckee
AIRFORCE BLUE
pilot/flight attendant / likes flyboys
LT BLUE/WHITE STRIPE
sailor / lookin' for salty seamen
TEAL BLUE
cock & ball torturer / cock & ball torturee
RED
fist fucker / fist fuckee
MAROON
cuts / bleeds
DARK RED
2-handed fister / 2-handed fistee
LIGHT PINK
dildo fucker / dildo fuckee
DARK PINK
tit torturer / tit torturee
MAUVE
into navel worshippers / has a navel fetish
MAGENTA
suck my pits / armpit freak
PURPLE
piercer / piercee
LAVENDER
likes drag queens / drag queen
YELLOW
pisser/WS / piss freak
PALE YELLOW
spits / drool crazy
MUSTARD
hung 8" or more / wants a big one
GOLD
two looking for one / one looking for two
ORANGE
anything anytime / nothing now (cruising)
APRICOT
two tons o' fun / chubby chaser
CORAL
suck my toes / shrimper
RUST
a cowboy / his horse
FUSCHIA
spanker / spankee
KELLY GREEN
hustler (for rent) / john (looking to buy)
HUNTER GREEN
daddy / orphan boy looking for daddy
OLIVE DRAB
military top / military bottom
LIME GREEN
dines off tricks (food) / dinner plate
BEIGE
rimmer / rimmee
BROWN
scat top / scat bottom
BROWN LACE
uncut / likes uncut
BROWN SATIN
cut / likes cut
CHARCOAL
latex fetish top / latex fetish bottom
GREY FLANNEL
actually owns a suit / likes men in suits
WHITE
beat my meat / I'll do us both
HOLSTEIN
milker / milkee
CREAM
comes in scumbags / sucks it out
BLACK/WHITE CHECK
safe sex top / safe sex bottom
RED/WHITE STRIPE
shaver / shavee
RED/BLACK STRIPE
furry bear / likes bears
WHITE LACE
likes white bottoms / likes white tops
BLACK/WHITE STRIPE
likes black bottoms / likes black tops
BROWN/WHITE STRIPE
likes latino bottoms / likes latino tops
YELLOW/WHITE STRIPE
likes asian bottoms / likes asian tops
LT BLUE/WHITE DOTS
likes white suckers / likes to suck whites
LT BLUE/BLACK DOTS
likes black suckers / likes to suck blacks
LT BLUE/BROWN DOTS
likes latino suckers / likes to suck latinos
LT BLUE/YELLOW DOTS
likes asian suckers / likes to suck asians
RED/WHITE GINGHAM
park sex top / park sex bottom
BROWN CORDUROY
headmaster / student
PAISLEY
wears boxer shorts / likes boxer shorts
FUR
bestialist top / bestialist bottom
GOLD LAME
likes muscleboy bottoms / likes muscleboy tops
SILVER LAME
starfucker / celebrity
BLACK VELVET
has/takes videos / will perform for the camera
WHITE VELVET
voyeur (likes to watch) / will put on a show
LEOPARD
has tattoos / likes tattoos
TAN
smokes cigars / likes cigars
TEDDY BEAR
cuddler / cuddlee
KEWPIE DOLL
chicken / chicken hawk
DIRTY JOCKSTRAP
wears a dirty jock / sucks it clean
DOILY
tearoom top (pours) / tearoom bottom (drinks)
MOSQUITO NETTING
outdoor sex top / outdoor sex bottom
ZIPLOC BAG
has drugs / looking for drugs
COCKTAIL NAPKIN
bartender / bar groupie
KLEENEX
stinks / sniffs
KEYS IN FRONT
has a home / has a car
KEYS IN BACK
needs a place to stay / looking for a ride
HOUNDSTOOTH
likes to nibble / will be bitten
UNION JACK
skinhead top / skinhead bottom
CALICO
new in town / tourists welcome
TERRYCLOTH
bathhouse top / bathhouse bottom
WHITE/MULTICOLOR DOTS
hosting an orgy / looking for an orgy

Last Update: June 8, 1997

Created: October 14, 1994 by Elf M. Sternberg