Out. Strip out is to remove parts from a machine. Ground out is when you hit a ground ball in baseball and are thrown out at first. Fan out is when something, such as cards, are spread out like a fan.

Thanks to Jeremy for solving this.

Flip the numbers upside down:

11 + 99 + 88 + 96 = 294

Hen. The words are the last in each phrase from the children’s nursery rhyme.

One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, Shut the door;
Five, six, Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, Lay them straight:
Nine, ten, A big, fat hen;

1. Flip both hourglasses over and drop the egg into the water.
2. When the 4-minute timer runs out, flip it over (4 minutes elapsed, 3 remaining on the 7-minute timer).
3. When the 7-minute timer runs out, flip it over. (7 minutes elapsed, 1 remaining in the 4-minute timer)
4. When the 4-minute timer runs out, flip the 7-minute timer over. (8 minutes elapsed. 6 minutes remained in the 7-minute timer, but flipping it over leaves one minute’s worth of sand on top. When it runs out exactly nine minutes will have elapsed.)

There was a married couple.