hackney

Meaning

Noun

1. (archaic, countable, uncountable) An ordinary horse.
2. (countable, uncountable) A carriage for hire or a cab.
3. (countable, uncountable) A horse used to ride or drive.
4. (countable, uncountable) A breed of English horse.
5. (archaic, countable, uncountable) A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.
6. (archaic, uncountable) Inferior writing; literary hackwork.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Offered for hire.
2. (figuratively, not-comparable) Much used; trite; mean.

Verb

1. (transitive) To make uninteresting or trite by frequent use.
2. (transitive) To use as a hackney.
3. (transitive) To carry in a hackney coach.

Synonyms

hackney carriage

hackney coach

remise

retain

hired carriage

hack

public carriage

hired

Translations

eskitmek

bayağı

körletmek

αγοραία άμαξα

αγοραίο άλογο

μισθώ

ξετρίβω

αγοραία ιππήλατη άμαξα

fiacre

huurrijtuig

verhuren

rijpaard

الحصان

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhækni/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hakeney

Cognate with Old French: haquenee

In summary

From Middle English hakeney, from the placename Hackney (formerly a town; now a borough of London), used for grazing horses before sale, from Old English *Hacan īeġ (“Haca's Island”, literally “Hook's Island”). The Old French haquenée (“ambling mare for ladies”), Latinized in England to hakeneius, is originally from the English.