~ 1
■ noun
1》 a small opening in a floor, wall, or roof allowing access from one area to another, in particular that in the deck of a boat leading to the cabin or lower level.
↘a door in an aircraft, spacecraft, or submarine.
2》 short for ~back .
Phrases
down the ~ informal used as a toast.
Origin
OE hæcc (denoting the lower half of a divided door), of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ verb
1》 (of a young bird, fish, or reptile) emerge from its egg.
↘(of an egg) open and produce a young animal.
↘cause (a young animal) to emerge from its egg.
2》 conspire to devise (a plot or plan).
■ noun a newly ~ed brood.
Origin
ME hacche , related to Swed. häcka and Dan. hække .
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~ 3
■ verb (in technical drawing) shade with closely drawn parallel lines.
Derivatives
~ing noun
Origin
C15 (in the sense 'inlay with strips of metal'): from OFr. hacher , from hache (see ~et ).