hackney

¹

[ hak-nee ]

noun

, plural hack·neys.

1. Also called hackney coach. a carriage or coach for hire; cab.
2. a trotting horse used for drawing a light carriage or the like.
3. a horse used for ordinary riding or driving.
4. (initial capital letter) one of an English breed of horses having a high-stepping gait.

adjective

1. let out, employed, or done for hire.

verb (used with object)

1. to make trite, common, or stale by frequent use.
2. to use as a hackney.

Hackney

²

[ hak-nee ]

noun

1. a borough of Greater London, England.

Hackney

¹

/ ˈhæknɪ /

noun

1. a borough of NE Greater London: formed in 1965 from the former boroughs of Shoreditch, Stoke Newington, and Hackney; nearby are Hackney Marshes, the largest recreation ground in London. Pop: 208 400 (2003 est). Area: 19 sq km (8 sq miles)

hackney

²

/ ˈhæknɪ /

noun

1. a compact breed of harness horse with a high-stepping trot
2. 1. a coach or carriage that is for hire
   2. ( as modifier )

      a hackney carriage

3. a popular term for hack 2

verb

1. tr; usually passive to make commonplace and banal by too frequent use

Derived Forms

• ˈhackneyism, noun

Other Words From

• hackney·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hackney¹

1300–50; Middle English hakeney, special use of placename Hackney, Middlesex, England

Word History and Origins

Origin of hackney¹

C14: probably after Hackney , where horses were formerly raised; sense 4 meaning derives from the allusion to a weakened hired horse

Example Sentences

Twenty-five other sites have been removed from the list as they are now considered safe, such as Abney Park Cemetery in Hackney.

From BBC

“Hackney Diamonds” did land one nomination for rock album, but it’s surprising the group didn’t turn up in rock performance or song or even something bigger.

From Los Angeles Times

The Rolling Stones were also nominated for best rock album for Hackney Diamonds, their first album of original material since 2016.

From BBC

Hackney Council wanted to close Fernbank and Sebright children’s centres in Stoke Newington and Haggerston as part of plans to cut 129 of 600 subsidised childcare places.

From BBC

Ahead of a final hearing, Hackney Council accepted its consultation materials were "not sufficiently clear" and, following advice from lawyers, said it was "settling by consent".

From BBC

Related Words

• carriage
• taxi
• taxicab