Difference between revisions of "Hackney"
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| − | The [[common noun]] (and [[adjective]]) 'a '''hackney'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>, sometimes shortened to '''[[hack]]''', has several meanings, all of which are derived from the first, 'a horse used for everyday riding'. A [[verb]] developed from the [[noun]] may be of more interest to the average reader of AWE. There is also a [[proper noun]], which probably has nothing to do with the [[common noun]]. | + | The [[common noun]] (and [[adjective]]) 'a '''hackney'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>, sometimes shortened to '''[[hack]]''', has several meanings, all of which are derived from the first, 'a horse used for everyday riding'. A [[verb]] developed from the [[noun]] may be of more interest to the average reader of AWE. There is also a [[proper noun]], which probably has nothing to do with the [[common noun]]. There is also a [[participial adjective]] '''hackneyed''', which may be used of student writers. (It is not a compliment.) |
*The '''hackney''' (from about 1700, often abbreviated to '''[[hack]]''') was first a horse, in the days when horses were the most common form of personal transport. | *The '''hackney''' (from about 1700, often abbreviated to '''[[hack]]''') was first a horse, in the days when horses were the most common form of personal transport. | ||
**It was specifically a horse used for ordinary riding - the sort of horse on which a knight might have jogged towards a tournament, or, in later times, a hunter might have ridden to a meet. In both cases, a more valuable and specialist horse would be led to the event by a servant, the '''destrier''' or '''charger''' for the tournament, a '''hunter''' for the other. The hunter was '''hacking''' to the meeting. | **It was specifically a horse used for ordinary riding - the sort of horse on which a knight might have jogged towards a tournament, or, in later times, a hunter might have ridden to a meet. In both cases, a more valuable and specialist horse would be led to the event by a servant, the '''destrier''' or '''charger''' for the tournament, a '''hunter''' for the other. The hunter was '''hacking''' to the meeting. | ||
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***This became commonly applied to writers, those who turn their pens to any use; '[[Grub Street]] [[hack]]s'. Nowadays this is mostly a [[pejorative]], or [[Deprecate - depreciate|self-deprecating]] term used of writers in daily papers. ''[[Private Eye]]'' uses it as a standard term for 'journalist'. The full word '''hackney''' is rarely used for this meaning. | ***This became commonly applied to writers, those who turn their pens to any use; '[[Grub Street]] [[hack]]s'. Nowadays this is mostly a [[pejorative]], or [[Deprecate - depreciate|self-deprecating]] term used of writers in daily papers. ''[[Private Eye]]'' uses it as a standard term for 'journalist'. The full word '''hackney''' is rarely used for this meaning. | ||
**When applied to women, it was often used to mean 'prostitute' - one whom any man can 'ride', for a fee. This meaning is rarely abbreviated to '''<s>hack</s>'''. | **When applied to women, it was often used to mean 'prostitute' - one whom any man can 'ride', for a fee. This meaning is rarely abbreviated to '''<s>hack</s>'''. | ||
| + | *The [[participial adjective]] '''hackneyed''' is used about language, where it applies to [[cliche]]s - overworked words, phrases or [[Figures of speech]]. ''[[OED]]'' defines it: "Used so frequently and indiscriminately as to have lost its freshness and interest; made trite and commonplace; stale." | ||
*The [[proper noun]] '''Hackney''' is the name of a district of London. It is recorded in 1198 as ''Hakeneia''. It appears to mean 'an island belonging to a man called Haca’, or 'an island shaped like a hook'. The 'island' may simply be a patch of drier ground in the middle of a marsh. | *The [[proper noun]] '''Hackney''' is the name of a district of London. It is recorded in 1198 as ''Hakeneia''. It appears to mean 'an island belonging to a man called Haca’, or 'an island shaped like a hook'. The 'island' may simply be a patch of drier ground in the middle of a marsh. | ||
*Note that the [[verb]] 'to '''hack'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> also has several meanings. For more, go to [[hack]]. | *Note that the [[verb]] 'to '''hack'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> also has several meanings. For more, go to [[hack]]. | ||
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| − | + | [[category:clarification of meanings]] | |
| + | [[category:figures]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:13, 27 February 2010
The common noun (and adjective) 'a hackney', sometimes shortened to hack, has several meanings, all of which are derived from the first, 'a horse used for everyday riding'. A verb developed from the noun may be of more interest to the average reader of AWE. There is also a proper noun, which probably has nothing to do with the common noun. There is also a participial adjective hackneyed, which may be used of student writers. (It is not a compliment.)
- The hackney (from about 1700, often abbreviated to hack) was first a horse, in the days when horses were the most common form of personal transport.
- It was specifically a horse used for ordinary riding - the sort of horse on which a knight might have jogged towards a tournament, or, in later times, a hunter might have ridden to a meet. In both cases, a more valuable and specialist horse would be led to the event by a servant, the destrier or charger for the tournament, a hunter for the other. The hunter was hacking to the meeting.
- Readers interested in equestrianism may like to know OED''s definition of 'a hack' (noun 3 (adjective)): "A horse for ordinary riding, as distinguished from cross-country, military, or other special riding; a saddle-horse for the road.
- The word implies technically a half-bred horse with more bone and substance than a thorough-bred."
- Readers interested in equestrianism may like to know OED''s definition of 'a hack' (noun 3 (adjective)): "A horse for ordinary riding, as distinguished from cross-country, military, or other special riding; a saddle-horse for the road.
- The ordinariness of this led to the practice of hiring out horses for some ordinary journey, so a hackney stable was one that kept horses for hire.
- By extension, hackney became an adjective meaning 'for hire'. This can be seen in such combinations as hackney-cab, a legalistic and bureaucratic name for a taxi (in earlier times a hackney carriage or hackney coach; and even earlier, a hackney-chair - a form of transport in which two men carried a traveller in a chair fitted with poles). A taxi is also known as a hansom cab.
- Figuratively, hackney was applied to any over-worked person, or drudge.
- This became commonly applied to writers, those who turn their pens to any use; 'Grub Street hacks'. Nowadays this is mostly a pejorative, or self-deprecating term used of writers in daily papers. Private Eye uses it as a standard term for 'journalist'. The full word hackney is rarely used for this meaning.
- When applied to women, it was often used to mean 'prostitute' - one whom any man can 'ride', for a fee. This meaning is rarely abbreviated to
hack.
- The ordinariness of this led to the practice of hiring out horses for some ordinary journey, so a hackney stable was one that kept horses for hire.
- The participial adjective hackneyed is used about language, where it applies to cliches - overworked words, phrases or Figures of speech. OED defines it: "Used so frequently and indiscriminately as to have lost its freshness and interest; made trite and commonplace; stale."
- The proper noun Hackney is the name of a district of London. It is recorded in 1198 as Hakeneia. It appears to mean 'an island belonging to a man called Haca’, or 'an island shaped like a hook'. The 'island' may simply be a patch of drier ground in the middle of a marsh.
- Note that the verb 'to hack' also has several meanings. For more, go to hack.
