Hack (hăk), n. [See Hatch a half door.] 1. A frame or grating of various kinds; as, a frame for drying bricks, fish, or cheese; a rack for feeding cattle; a grating in a mill race, etc.[1913 Webster]
2. Unburned brick or tile, stacked up for drying.[1913 Webster]
Hack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hacked (hăkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Hacking.] [OE. hakken, AS. haccian; akin to D. hakken, G. hacken, Dan. hakke, Sw. hacka, and perh. to E. hew. Cf. Hew to cut, Haggle.] 1. To cut irregulary, without skill or definite purpose; to notch; to mangle by repeated strokes of a cutting instrument; as, to hack a post.[1913 Webster]
My sword hacked like a handsaw.
2. Fig.: To mangle in speaking. Shak.[1913 Webster]
3. (Computers) To program (a computer) for pleasure or compulsively; especially, to try to defeat the security systems and gain unauthorized access to a computer.[PJC]
4. To bear, physically or emotionally; as, he left the job because he couldn't hack the pressure. [Colloq.] [PJC]
Hack, v. t. (Football) To kick the shins of (an opposing payer).[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Hack, v. i. To cough faintly and frequently, or in a short, broken manner; as, a hacking cough.[1913 Webster]
Hack, n. 1. A notch; a cut. Shak.[1913 Webster]
2. An implement for cutting a notch; a large pick used in breaking stone.[1913 Webster]
3. A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough. Dr. H. More.[1913 Webster]
4. (Football) A kick on the shins, or a cut from a kick. T. Hughes.[1913 Webster]
5. (Computers) A clever computer program or routine within a program to accomplish an objective in a non-obvious fashion.[PJC]
6. (Computers) A quick and inelegant, though functional solution to a programming problem.[PJC]
7. A taxicab. [informal][PJC]
Hack saw, a handsaw having a narrow blade stretched in an iron frame, for cutting metal.[1913 Webster]
Hack (hăk), n. [Shortened fr. hackney. See Hackney.][1913 Webster]
1. A horse, hackneyed or let out for common hire; also, a horse used in all kinds of work, or a saddle horse, as distinguished from hunting and carriage horses.[1913 Webster]
2. A coach or carriage let for hire; a hackney coach; formerly, a coach with two seats inside facing each other; now, usually a taxicab.[1913 Webster +PJC]
On horse, on foot, in hacks and gilded chariots.
3. Hence: The driver of a hack; a taxi driver; a hackman.[PJC]
3. A bookmaker who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.[1913 Webster]
Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,Who long was a bookseller's hack.
4. A procuress.[1913 Webster]
Hack, v. i. To ride or drive as one does with a hack horse; to ride at an ordinary pace, or over the roads, as distinguished from riding across country or in military fashion.[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Hack, a. Hackneyed; hired; mercenary. Wakefield.[1913 Webster]
Hack writer, a hack; one who writes for hire. “A vulgar hack writer.” Macaulay.[1913 Webster]
Hack, v. t. 1. To use as a hack; to let out for hire.[1913 Webster]
2. To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.[1913 Webster]
The word “remarkable” has been so hacked of late.
Hack, v. i. 1. To be exposed or offered to common use for hire; to turn prostitute. Hanmer.[1913 Webster]
2. To live the life of a drudge or hack. Goldsmith.[1913 Webster]