'Hackney' definitions:

Definition of 'hackney'

noun

A carriage for hire [syn: hackney, hackney carriage, hackney coach]

noun

A compact breed of harness horse

From: GCIDE

Hackney \Hack"ney\, a. Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used; trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors. "Hackney tongue." --Roscommon. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Hackney \Hack"ney\ (-n[y^]), n.; pl. Hackneys (-n[i^]z). [OE. hakeney, hakenay; cf. F. haguen['e]e a pacing horse, an ambling nag, OF. also haquen['e]e, Sp. hacanea, OSp. facanea, D. hakkenei, also OF. haque horse, Sp. haca, OSp. faca; perh. akin to E. hack to cut, and nag, and orig. meaning, a jolting horse. Cf. Hack a horse, Nag.]
1. A horse for riding or driving; a nag; a pony. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
2. A horse or pony kept for hire. [1913 Webster]
3. A carriage kept for hire; a hack; a hackney coach. [1913 Webster]
4. A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Hackney \Hack"ney\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackneyed (-n[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Hackneying.]
1. To devote to common or frequent use, as a horse or carriage; to wear out in common service; to make trite or commonplace; as, a hackneyed metaphor or quotation. [1913 Webster]
Had I so lavish of my presence been, So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To carry in a hackney coach. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]