Hack

v. t. [imp. & p. p. HACKED (hăkt); p. pr. & vb. n. HACKING.] [A-S. haccan, D. hakken, Dan. hakke, Sw. hacka, Ger. hacken, whence Fr. hacher, Prov. Fr. héquer, Sp. hachear, It. acciare.]

1. To cut irregularly, without skill or definite purpose; to notch; to mangle by repeated strokes of a cutting instrument. “My sword hacked like a handsaw.” Shak.
2. To speak with stops or catches; to speak with hesitation. Shak.

n. 1. A notch; a cut. Shak.

2. Hesitating or faltering speech. Sir T. More.
3. A procuress.

n. [O. Fr. haque, Sp. haca, O. Sp. & Pg. faca. Cf. Icel. fákr, horse. See HACKNEY.]

1. A horse, or coach, or other carriage, hackneyed or let out for common hire; also, a family horse used in all kinds of work, as distinguished from hunting and carriage horses.
2. A book-maker who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge. Macaulay.
3. A large pick used in working stone. Simmonds.
4. A rack for feeding cattle.
5. A frame for drying fish, or for drying cheeses.
6. A place where bricks are dried before burning.
7. The frame, composed of wooden bars, in the tail-race of a mill.