hackney, n. [OE. hakeney, hakenay; cf. F. haguenée a pacing horse, an ambling nag, OF. also haquenée, Sp. hacanea, OSp. facanea, D. hakkenei, also OF. haque horse, Sp. haca, OSp. faca; perh. akin to E. hack to cut, and nag, and orig. meaning, a jolting horse. Cf. Hack a horse, Nag.].

A horse for riding or driving; a nag; a pony. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
A horse or pony kept for hire. [1913 Webster]
A carriage kept for hire; a hack; a hackney coach. [1913 Webster]
A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute. [1913 Webster]

hackney, a.

Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used; trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors. Roscommon.

hackney, v. t.

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. [1913 Webster]
"Had I so lavish of my presence been,
So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men." [1913 Webster]
To carry in a hackney coach. Cowper. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

hackney, n. (pl. -eys)
1 a horse of average size and quality for ordinary riding.
2 (attrib.) designating any of various vehicles kept for hire.

Usage

No longer used except in hackney carriage, still in official use as a term for 'taxi'.

Etymology

ME, perh. f. Hackney (formerly Hakenei) in London, where horses were pastured

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