Hackney

Meanings

1. A London borough in Greater London, England, where once upon a time many horses were pastured.
2. A town in eastern London, England, within this borough (OS grid ref TQ3584).
3. An English habitational surname from Old English.
4. One of several breeds of compact English horses: see hackney
5. (means of transportation): see hackney.

1. An ordinary horse.
2. A carriage for hire or a cab.
3. A horse used to ride or drive.
4. A breed of English horse.
5. A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.
6. Inferior writing; literary hackwork.

1. Offered for hire.
2. Much used; trite; mean.

1. To make uninteresting or trite by frequent use.
2. To use as a hackney.
3. To carry in a hackney coach.

Etymology

The senses "a horse" and "(a means of transport) available for hire" derive from the fact that many horses were kept for hire in the London borough of Hackney. The place name is from Old English *Hacan īeġ "Hacan's Isle" (or "Hook's Island"), referring to dry land in a marsh.