Hack"ney (?), n.; pl. Hackneys (#). [OE. haceney, hacenay; cf. F. haquen'ee a pacing horse, an ambling nag, OF. also haquen'ee, 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.
© Webster 1913.
Hack"ney, a.
Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used; trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors.
"
Hackney tongue."
Roscommon.
<-- also hackneyed -->
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.