Hackney

Definitions

1. A London borough in Greater London, England, where once upon a time many horses were pastured.
2. An ordinary horse.
   archaic, countable, uncountable
3. A town in eastern London, England, within this borough (OS grid ref TQ3584).
4. A carriage for hire or a cab.
   countable, uncountable
5. An English habitational surname from Old English.
6. A horse used to ride or drive.
   countable, uncountable
7. One of several breeds of compact English horses: see hackney
8. A breed of English horse.
   countable, uncountable
9. (means of transportation): see hackney.
   in-compounds
10. A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.
    archaic, countable, uncountable
11. Inferior writing; literary hackwork.
    archaic, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“"Mamma would die⟳ if she knew. The boy," replied Georgiana, "walked with us to Oxford Street, and we took a hackney-coach. Will Mrs. Gooch ever forgive⟳ us for getting out of it at her door?"”

“Not that the existence of Grub street is to be doubted: it was, indeed, a grim actuality, and many a garreter realised by experience⟳ How unhappy's the fate To live⟳ by one's pate And to be forced to write⟳ hackney for bread.”

CEFR level