hack¹ / hak/ • v. 1. [tr.] cut with rough or heavy blows: hack off the dead branches | [intr.] a fishmonger hacked at it with a cleaver. 2. [intr.] use a computer to gain unauthorized access to data in a system: they hacked into a bank's computer. ∎  [tr.] gain unauthorized access to (data in a computer): hacking private information from computers.3. (hack it) inf. manage; cope: lots of people leave because they can't hack it.• n. 1. a rough cut, blow, or stroke: he was sure one of us was going to take a hack at him. ∎  (in sports) a kick or hit inflicted on another player. ∎  a cut or gash. ∎  a tool for rough striking or cutting, e.g., a mattock or a miner's pick.2. inf. an act of computer hacking. ∎  a piece of computer code that performs some function, esp. an unofficial alternative or addition to a commercial program: freeware and shareware hacks.PHRASES: hacking cough a short, dry, frequent cough.PHRASAL VERBS: hack around pass one's time idly or with no definite purpose.hack someone off inf. annoy or infuriate someone.hack² • n. 1. a writer or journalist producing dull, unoriginal work: [as adj.] a hack scriptwriter. ∎  a person who does dull routine work.2. a horse for ordinary riding. ∎  a good-quality lightweight riding horse, esp. one used in the show ring. ∎  a ride on a horse. ∎  an inferior or worn-out horse. ∎  a horse rented out for riding.3. a taxicab.• v. [intr.] [usu. as n.] (hacking) ride a horse for pleasure or exercise.DERIVATIVES: hack·er·y / ˈhakərē/ n. (in sense 1)hack³ • n. 1. Falconry a board on which a hawk's meat is laid. 2. a wooden frame for drying bricks, cheeses, etc. ∎  a pile of bricks stacked up to dry before firing.PHRASES: at hack (of a young hawk) given partial liberty but not yet allowed to hunt for itself.

hack1 cut with heavy blows XII; break up (ground), etc. XVII. OE. (tō)haccian cut in pieces = MLG., MDu., (M)HG. hacken (Du. hakken); WGmc. deriv. of imit. base *χak-: cf. synon. OE. hæċċan, OHG. hecken.
So hack sb. tool for breaking or chopping up XIII; gash, cut, notch XVI. Partly — MLG. hakke mattock; partly f. the vb.

hack a writer or journalist producing dull, unoriginal work.

Hack is recorded in this sense from the late 17th century, and comes from the use of the word to mean ‘a horse for ordinary riding’; ultimately, it is an abbreviation of hackney.

hack3 from XVII in various senses of HACKNEY (esp. ‘riding-horse’ and ‘drudge’), of which it is a shortening.
Hence vb. make a hack of, etc. XVIII.

hack2 board for a hawk's meat XVI; rack XVII. var. of HATCH1.