hack

hack

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of hack in English

English Online Dictionary. What means hack‎? What does hack mean?

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /hæk/
  • Rhymes: -æk

Etymology 1

From Middle English hacken, hakken, from Old English *haccian (to hack), from Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakkōną (to chop; hoe; hew), from Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng- (to be sharp; peg; hook; handle).

Cognate with Saterland Frisian häkje (to hack), West Frisian hakje (to hack), Dutch hakken (to chop up; hack), German hacken (to chop; hack; hoe), Danish hakke (to chop), Swedish hacka (to hack; chop), French hacher (to chop).

The computer senses date back to at least 1955 when it initially referred to creative problem solving. By 1963, the negative connotations of “black hat” or malicious hacking had become associated with telephone hacking (cf. phreaking).

Verb

hack (third-person singular simple present hacks, present participle hacking, simple past and past participle hacked)

  1. (transitive) To chop or cut down in a rough manner. [circa 12th c.]
  2. To withstand or put up with a difficult situation. [20th c.]
  3. (computing) To make a quick code change to patch a computer program, often one that, while being effective, is inelegant or makes the program harder to maintain.
    Synonyms: frob, tweak
  4. (computing) To accomplish a difficult programming task.
  5. (computing, slang, transitive) To work with something on an intimately technical level.
  6. (transitive, colloquial, by extension) To apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to something to increase productivity, efficiency or ease.
  7. (transitive, slang, computing) To hack into; to gain unauthorized access to (a computer system, e.g., a website, or network) by manipulating code.
    Synonym: crack
  8. (transitive, slang, computing, by extension) To gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).
  9. (intransitive, video games) To cheat by using unauthorized modifications.
  10. (ice hockey) To strike an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
  11. (ice hockey) To make a flailing attempt to hit the puck with a hockey stick.
  12. (baseball) To swing at a pitched ball.
  13. (soccer and rugby) To kick (a player) on the shins.
  14. To strike in a frantic movement.
  15. (transitive) To strike lightly as part of tapotement massage.
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Spanish: jaquear
Translations

Noun

hack (countable and uncountable, plural hacks)

  1. A tool for chopping. [14th c.]
  2. A hacking blow. [19th c.]
  3. A gouge or notch made by such a blow.
  4. (figuratively) A try, an attempt. [19th c.]
  5. (curling) The foothold traditionally cut into the ice from which the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery.
  6. (obsolete) A mattock or a miner's pickaxe.
  7. (informal) An improvised device or solution to a problem.
  8. (computing, slang) An expedient, temporary solution, such as a small patch or change to code, meant to be replaced with a more elegant solution at a later date; a workaround.
  9. (computing, slang, dated) A computer programmer who makes quick but inelegant changes to computer code to solve problems or add features.
  10. (computing, slang, dated) A computer programmer, particularly a veteran or someone not immediately expected to be capable of programming.
  11. (computing, slang) An interesting technical achievement, particularly in computer programming.
  12. (colloquial) A trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method to increase productivity, efficiency, or ease.
  13. (computing, slang) The illegal accessing of a computer network.
  14. (computing, slang) A video game or any computer software that has been altered from its original state.
  15. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) A practical joke that showcases cleverness and creativity.
  16. (slang, military) Time check, as for example upon synchronization of wristwatches.
    Related terms: hack watch
  17. (ice hockey) The act of striking an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
  18. (baseball) A swing of the bat at a pitched ball by the batter, particularly a choppy, ungraceful one that misses the ball such as at a fastball.
  19. A kick on the shins in football of any type.
  20. (uncountable, slang, naval) Confinement of an officer to their stateroom as a punishment.
  21. (military, slang) An airplane of poor quality or in poor condition.
Quotations
  • For quotations using this term, see Citations:hack.
Synonyms
  • (access attempt): crack
  • (an illegal means to gain advantage): exploit
  • (expedient, temporary solution): band-aid, contrivance, improvision, improvisation, kludge, makeshift, quick fix, patch
  • (trick to increase productivity or efficiency): lifehack
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Variations of hatch, heck.

Noun

hack (plural hacks)

  1. (falconry) A board which the falcon's food is placed on; used by extension for the state of partial freedom in which they are kept before being trained.
  2. A food-rack for cattle.
  3. A rack used to dry something, such as bricks, fish, or cheese.
  4. A grating in a mill race.

Verb

hack (third-person singular simple present hacks, present participle hacking, simple past and past participle hacked)

  1. To lay (bricks) on a rack to dry.
  2. (falconry) To keep (young hawks) in a state of partial freedom, before they are trained.

Etymology 3

Abbreviation of hackney (an ordinary horse), probably from place name Hackney.

Noun

hack (plural hacks)

  1. A horse for hire, especially one which is old and tired. [from 16th c.]
  2. A person, often a journalist, hired to do routine work. [from 17th c.]
  3. (derogatory) Someone who is available for hire; hireling, mercenary.
  4. (slang) The driver of a taxicab (hackney cab).
  5. (now chiefly Canada, US, colloquial) A vehicle let for hire; originally, a hackney cab, now typically a taxicab. [from 17th c.]
  6. A hearse.
    • 1920s, Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie and Johnny
      Bring out the rubber-tired buggie/Bring out the rubber-tired hack/I'm takin' my Johnny to the graveyard/But I ain't gonna bring him back
  7. (derogatory, authorship) An untalented writer.
  8. (derogatory) One who is professionally successful despite producing mediocre work. (Usually applied to persons in a creative field.)
  9. (derogatory) A talented writer-for-hire, paid to put others' thoughts into felicitous language.
  10. (politics, slightly derogatory) A political agitator.
  11. (UK, student politics, derogatory) A person who frequently canvasses for votes, either directly or by appearing to continuously act with the ulterior motive of furthering their political career.
  12. (obsolete) A writer who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.
  13. (obsolete) A procuress.
Synonyms
  • (A saddle horse which is old and tired): nag
Coordinate terms
  • (worthless horse): bum
Derived terms
  • away in a hack
  • hack chaise
Translations

Verb

hack (third-person singular simple present hacks, present participle hacking, simple past and past participle hacked)

  1. (dated) To make common or cliched; to vulgarise.
  2. (equestrianism) To ride a horse at a regular pace; to ride on a road (as opposed to riding cross-country etc.).
  3. (obsolete) To live the life of a drudge or hack.
  4. To use as a hack; to let out for hire.
  5. To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.
  6. To drive a hackney cab.

Etymology 4

Unclear. Perhaps imitative; compare hock, hawk. Alternatively, perhaps from hack (chop; do something difficult) via the idea of doing something (like breathing) or with difficulty.

Verb

hack (third-person singular simple present hacks, present participle hacking, simple past and past participle hacked)

  1. (intransitive) To cough noisily. [19th c.]
Translations

Noun

hack (countable and uncountable, plural hacks)

  1. A dry cough.
  2. A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough.
Translations

Etymology 5

From hackysack.

Noun

hack (plural hacks)

  1. A small ball usually made of woven cotton or suede and filled with rice, sand or some other filler, for use in hackeysack.
Translations

Verb

hack (third-person singular simple present hacks, present participle hacking, simple past and past participle hacked)

  1. To play hackeysack.
Translations

Further reading

  • hack on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
  • “hack”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
  • “hack”, in The Century Dictionary [], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

References

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English hack.

Pronunciation

  • (Netherlands) IPA(key): /ɦɛk/
  • Hyphenation: hack
  • Rhymes: -ɛk
  • Homophone: hek

Noun

hack m (plural hacks, diminutive hackje n)

  1. hack (exploit; illegitimate attempt to gain access)
  • hacken
  • hacker

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This article based on an article on Wiktionary. The list of authors can be seen in the page history there. The original work has been modified. This article is distributed under the terms of this license.