Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Hackney?

\Hack"ney\, n.; pl. {Hackneys}. [OE. haceney, hacenay; cf. F. haquen['e]e a pacing horse, an ambling nag, OF. also haquen['e]e, Sp. hacanea, OSp. facanea, D. hakkenei, also OF. haque horse, Sp. haca, OSp. faca; perh akin to E. hack to cut, and orig. meaning, a jolting horse. Cf. {Hack} a horse, {Nag}.] 1. A horse for riding or driving; a nag; a pony. --Chaucer. 2. A horse or pony kept for hire. 3. A carriage kept for hire; a hack; a hackney coach. 4. A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.
\Hack"ney\, a. Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used; trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors. ``Hackney tongue.'' --Roscommon.
\Hack"ney\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hackneyed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hackneying}.] 1. To devote to common or frequent use, as a horse or carriage; to wear out in common service; to make trite or commonplace; as, a hackneyed metaphor or quotation. Had I lavish of my presence been, So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men. --Shak. 2. To carry in a hackney coach. --Cowper.