HACK

I. verb Etymology: Middle English hakken, from Old English -haccian; akin to Old High German hacchōn to ~, Old English hōc hook Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to cut or sever with repeated irregular or unskillful blows, to cut or shape by or as if by crude or ruthless strokes , annoy , vex , to clear or make by or as if by cutting away vegetation , 3. to manage successfully , tolerate , intransitive verb 1. to make chopping strokes or blows , to play inexpert golf, to cough in a short dry manner, loaf , 4. to write computer programs for enjoyment, to gain access to a computer illegally, II. noun Date: 14th century an implement for ~ing, nick , notch , a short dry cough, a ~ing stroke or blow, restriction to quarters as punishment for naval officers, a usually creative solution to a computer hardware or programming problem or limitation, III. noun Etymology: short for ~ney Date: 1672 1. ~ney , b. taxicab , cabdriver , 2. a. a horse let out for common hire, a horse used in all kinds of work, a horse worn out in service ; jade , a light easy saddle horse, a ride on a horse, 3. a person who works solely for mercenary reasons ; hireling , a writer who works on order, ~er 2, IV. adjective Date: circa 1734 working for hire especially with mediocre professional standards , performed by, suited to, or characteristic of a ~ , ~neyed , trite , V. verb Date: 1857 intransitive verb to ride or drive at an ordinary pace or over the roads especially as distinguished from racing or hunting, to operate a taxicab, transitive verb to ride (a horse) at an ordinary pace, VI. transitive verb Etymology: ~, noun, board on which a hawk is fed, state of partial liberty, probably alteration of Middle English hache, heche, heck lower door, hatch Date: 1883 to rear (a young hawk) in a state of partial liberty especially prior to the acquisition of flight and hunting capabilities, VII. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1914 a guard especially at a prison