hack

I

[[t]hæk[/t]]

v. t.

1) to cut, notch, slice, chop, or sever with irregular, often heavy blows (often fol. by up or down):

to hack down trees[/ex]

2) to clear (a road, path, etc.) by cutting away vines, trees, or other growth

3) to damage or injure by crude, harsh, or insensitive treatment, as a piece of writing

4) to reduce or cut ruthlessly; trim:

to hack a budget severely[/ex]

5) cvb sts Slang. to deal or cope with; handle; tolerate:

I can't hack all this commuting[/ex]

6) to make rough cuts or notches

7) to cough harshly, usu. in short and repeated spasms

8) a cut, gash, or notch

9) bui a tool for hacking, as an ax or pick

10) an act or instance of hacking; a cutting blow

11) pat a short, rasping dry cough

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- hack it

Etymology: 1150–1200; ME hacken; cf. OE tōhaccian to hack to pieces, c. MLG, MD, MHG hacken II

hack

[[t]hæk[/t]] n.

1) a person, esp. a professional, who surrenders individual independence, integrity, belief, etc., in return for money or other reward:

a political hack[/ex]

2) a writer whose services are for hire

3) a person who produces banal or mediocre work or who works at a dull or routine task

4) a horse kept for common hire or adapted for general work, esp. ordinary riding

5) a saddle horse

6) an old or worn-out horse; jade

7) a coach or carriage kept for hire; hackney

8) inf

a) a taxicab

b) a cabdriver

9) to make a hack of; let out for hire

10) to make trite or stale by frequent use; hackney

11) inf to drive a taxi

12) to ride or drive on the road at an ordinary pace

13) hired as a hack; of a hired sort:

a hack writer; hack work[/ex]

14) hackneyed; trite; banal:

hack writing[/ex]

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Etymology: 1680–90; short for hackney