Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng-der.
Proto-Germanic *hakkōną
Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn
Old English *haccian
Middle English hakken
English hack
From Middle English hacken, hakken, from Old English *haccian (“to hack”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakkōną (“to chop; hoe; hew”), from Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng- (“to be sharp; peg; hook; handle”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian häkje (“to hack”), West Frisian hakje (“to hack”), Dutch hakken (“to chop up; hack”), German hacken (“to chop; hack; hoe”), Danish hakke (“to chop”), Swedish hacka (“to hack; chop”), French hacher (“to chop”). Related to hatch.
The computer senses date back to at least 1955 when it initially referred to creative problem solving. By 1963, the negative connotations of “black hat” or malicious hacking had become associated with telephone hacking (cf. phreaking).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A tool for chopping.
(countable, uncountable) A hacking blow.
(countable, uncountable) A gouge or notch made by such a blow.
Look you what hacks are on his helmet ! c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A try, an attempt.
(countable, uncountable) The foothold traditionally cut into the ice from which the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A mattock or a miner's pickaxe.
(countable, informal, uncountable) An improvised device or solution to a problem.
Luckily for us J company picked us up in their hack — two snowmobiles with a big inflatable raft strapped between them.
(countable, slang, uncountable) An expedient, temporary solution, such as a small patch or change to code, meant to be replaced with a more elegant solution at a later date; a workaround.
Valleysoft released a hack yesterday to fix the "crashes when more than 50 recipients" bug for people who need it right away. The company says its next release will also solve this as well as add new features.
(countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A computer programmer who makes quick but inelegant changes to computer code to solve problems or add features.
Tsang is great but Zhou is such a hack — I wouldn't want him on my project.
(countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A computer programmer, particularly a veteran or someone not immediately expected to be capable of programming.
Terry wrote that module? I didn't know she was a hack too!
(countable, slang, uncountable) An interesting technical achievement, particularly in computer programming.
Flugensoft came out with a neat hack last week that allows your watch to warm up your car if it's below freezing outside.
(colloquial, countable, uncountable) A trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to increase productivity, efficiency, or ease.
Woebot was full of tasks and tricks — little mental health hacks — which at first made me roll my eyes. One day Woebot asked me to press an ice cube to my forehead, to feel the sensation as a way of better connecting with my body. 2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times:
Putting your phone in a sandwich bag when you go to the beach is such a great hack.
One of my go-to side dish hacks is sprinkling crunchy, cracked whole spices onto a pan of vegetables before roasting. 2022, Melissa Clark, Dinner in One, →ISBN, page 54:
(countable, slang, uncountable) The illegal accessing of a computer network.
(countable, slang, uncountable) A video game or any computer software that has been altered from its original state.
[…] found out a discarded sex mini-game in the code, and made it available again in the modified PC version of the game that they nicknamed “Hot Coffee.” This hack of the game created a controversy, since the inclusion of sexual content would change its age rating, […] 2014, Clara Fernández-Vara, Introduction to Game Analysis, page 165:
(countable, qualifier:Massachusetts Institute of Technology, uncountable) A practical joke that showcases cleverness and creativity.
(countable, slang, uncountable) Time check, as for example upon synchronization of wristwatches.
(countable, uncountable) The act of striking an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
Zersky is still down after that nasty hack by Lenner.
(countable, uncountable) A swing of the bat at a pitched ball by the batter, particularly a choppy, ungraceful one that misses the ball such as at a fastball.
And Melnick goes down with one last hack at an O'Malley fastball.
(countable, uncountable) A kick on the shins in football of any type.
Liverpool left-back Robertson had been excellent but was sent off for a reckless hack on Emerson Royal, a decision given after Paul Tierney reviewed the decision on the pitch-side monitor. 2021 December 19, Alex Bysouth, “Tottenham Hotpsur 2 - 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:
“Ain't there just fine scrummages then! and the three trees you see there which come out into the play, that's a tremendous place when the ball hangs there, for you get thrown against the trees, and that's worse than any hack.” 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
Wales are awarded a free kick after a minor hack by Järvinen on Llewellyn.
(slang, uncountable) Confinement of an officer to their stateroom as a punishment.
You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter! 1986, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Top Gun (motion picture), spoken by Stinger (James Tolkan):
“Lieutenant Cauthen, you've got ten seconds to explain yourself before I put you in hack!” 2013, David Cauthen, When Destiny Comes to a Fork in the Road, page 426:
(countable, slang, uncountable) An airplane of poor quality or in poor condition.
[…] so that he had to make the 300-mile journey in a “hack” plane which had spluttering engines, which did not conduce to an easy mind nor to a comfortable journey; […] 1967, Christian Advocate, volume 47, page 292:
Henebry's planes returned to Japan to reload, and early in the morning brought almost 3,000 more troopers to Korea […] Before sunrise next day, all troops in the maneuver had been picked up again and airlifted in “Henebry Hacks” back to Japan. 1952, Air Reservist, page 6:
he האק (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · bg опит (figuratively: try, attempt) · fi hakki (curling: foothold device) · de Hack (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · pl oskard (mattock or miner's pick) · he האק (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · es maña (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · he פלסטר (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · fi kirves (tool for chopping) · fi purkka (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · fi purkkaratkaisu (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · it rimedio (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · fi hakkerointiyritys (illegal accessing of a computer network) · it accorgimento (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · it pirateria informatica (illegal accessing of a computer network) · fi niksi (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · es truco (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · fi hakku (mattock or miner's pick) · fi heilautus (baseball: swing of the bat) · ru костыль (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · bg мотика (tool for chopping) · it toppa (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · it espediente (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · he מעקף (interesting technical achievement in programming) · he פתרון טכני (interesting technical achievement in programming) · mk хакување (illegal accessing of a computer network) · it rattoppo (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · mk хакирање (illegal accessing of a computer network) · he פרצה (video game or computer software that has been altered from its original state) · km ការលបលួចចូល (illegal accessing of a computer network) · fi yritys (figuratively: try, attempt) · he האק (video game or computer software that has been altered from its original state) · bg кирка (tool for chopping) · fi hakkeroitu softa (video game or computer software that has been altered from its original state) · he פאטש (computing: expedient, temporary solution) · ar حيلة (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · fi potku pohkeeseen (football: kick on the shins) · fi isku (hacking blow) · fi iskujälki (gouge or notch made by such a blow) · fi tietomurtoyritys (illegal accessing of a computer network) · is hakk (trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · ms godaman (illegal accessing of a computer network) · he פרצה (illegal accessing of a computer network) · it hackeraggio (interesting technical achievement in programming)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng-der.
Proto-Germanic *hakkōną
Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn
Old English *haccian
Middle English hakken
English hack
From Middle English hacken, hakken, from Old English *haccian (“to hack”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakkōną (“to chop; hoe; hew”), from Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng- (“to be sharp; peg; hook; handle”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian häkje (“to hack”), West Frisian hakje (“to hack”), Dutch hakken (“to chop up; hack”), German hacken (“to chop; hack; hoe”), Danish hakke (“to chop”), Swedish hacka (“to hack; chop”), French hacher (“to chop”). Related to hatch.
The computer senses date back to at least 1955 when it initially referred to creative problem solving. By 1963, the negative connotations of “black hat” or malicious hacking had become associated with telephone hacking (cf. phreaking).
Meanings
(transitive) To chop or cut down in a rough manner.
They hacked the brush down and made their way through the jungle.
The ruthless practices of the Ontario Film Censor Board are by now the laughing stock of most of the world. Scenes that contain more flesh or affection than they find savoury are simply hacked out of the film before it is released. 1981 February 14, Alexander Wilson, “The New Right Attacks Childhood Sexuality: A Canadian Perspective”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 29, page 6:
Among other things he found a sharp hunting knife, on the keen blade of which he immediately proceeded to cut his finger. Undaunted he continued his experiments, finding that he could hack and hew splinters of wood from the table and chairs with this new toy. 1912 October, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “Tarzan of the Apes”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as chapter 6, in Tarzan of the Apes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, June 1914, →OCLC:
To withstand or put up with a difficult situation.
Can you hack it out here with no electricity or running water?
New Yorkers have been fleeing for months. But the fear some residents have of the violent reactions to the protests here is adding a new challenge to those asking themselves whether they can hack the city. Many are deciding not to return. 2020 June 5, Alyson Krueger, “The Agonizing Question: Is New York City Worth It Anymore?”, in New York Times:
To make a quick code change to patch a computer program, often one that, while being effective, is inelegant or makes the program harder to maintain.
I hacked in a fix for this bug, but we'll still have to do a real fix later.
To accomplish a difficult programming task.
The police said that officers belonging to the Cyber Security and Technology Crime unit searched an office in the Wong Chuk Hang neighborhood on Friday afternoon on the suspicion that computers at the institute had been hacked, leading to a leak of personal information. 2020 July 10, Tiffany May, Austin Ramzy, “Hong Kong Police Raid Pollster on Eve of Pro-Democracy Camp Primary”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2020:
He can hack like no one else and make the program work as expected.
(slang, transitive) To work with something on an intimately technical level.
I'm currently hacking distributed garbage collection.
(broadly, colloquial, transitive) To apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to something to increase productivity, efficiency or ease.
I read up on dating tips so I can hack my sex life.
(slang, transitive) To hack into; to gain unauthorized access to (a computer system, e.g., a website, or network) by manipulating code.
FACT: The People’s Republic of China (China) and their proxies bought, stole, or hacked as many as 220 million Americans’ voter registration data. 2026 July 30, “The White House Government Transparency Task Force Fact Sheet”, in The White House, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2026:
(broadly, slang, transitive) To gain unauthorized access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).
When I logged in to the social network, I discovered I'd been hacked.
(intransitive) To cheat by using unauthorized modifications.
That player must be hacking, they got so many kills last game.
To strike an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
He's going to the penalty box after hacking the defender in front of the goal.
Jensen gets a 5 minute major penalty for hacking Orsov in the back.
To make a flailing attempt to hit the puck with a hockey stick.
There's a scramble in front of the net as the forwards are hacking at the bouncing puck.
To swing at a pitched ball.
He went to the batter's box hacking.
To kick (a player) on the shins.
Barcelona had been harried and hurried and stretched thin by the midway point in the second half. Tackles flew in. Toes were crushed, shins barked, ankles hacked. 8 May 2019, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in The Guardian:
To strike in a frantic movement.
Centre-back Branislav Ivanovic then took a wild slash at the ball but his captain John Terry saved Chelsea's skin by hacking the ball clear for a corner with Kevin Davies set to strike from just six yards out. 2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:
(transitive) To strike lightly as part of tapotement massage.
[…] laterally from and then towards the spine, and continued downwards from the shoulders until the whole back has been hacked. 1915, Louisa L. Despard, Handbook of Massage for Beginners, page 14:
pl włamać się (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · hu meghekkel (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · afb هكر (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · mk парчосува (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · ar اِخْتَرَقَ (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · pt hackear (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · de eindringen (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · es cortar (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · oc chaplar (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · cmn 破解 (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · it farcela (to withstand or put up with a difficult situation) · eo haki (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · pl rąbać (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · vi chịu khó (to withstand or put up with a difficult situation) · el χακάρω (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · oc copassejar (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi hakkeroida (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · ru взлома́ть (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · it riprogrammare (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · ka გატეხვა (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · nl hakken (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fa هک کردن (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · cu рѫбити (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi huitoa jaloille (ice hockey: to strike an opponent with one's hockey stick) · es jaquear (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · pl włamać się (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · cmn 黑 (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · es hackear (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · mk цепи (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · it introdursi illegamente (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · bg ре́жа (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · afb هكر (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · it rimodulare (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · bg ха́квам (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · io hakar (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · ka შეჭრა (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · pl włamywać się (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · afb اخترق (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · sv hacka (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · ru взла́мывать (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · afb اخترق (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · bg подси́чам (ice hockey: to strike an opponent with one's hockey stick) · fr pirater (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · ia hachar (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · it ricodificare (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · ar اِخْتَرَقَ (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · fi hakata (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi murtautua (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · ro sparge (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · id meretas (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · it accedere illegalmente (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · vi chém (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · es jaquear (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · no hakke (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · da hacke (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · pl wyrąbać (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · mi mūrere (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · fi työskennellä jonkin parissa (to work with on an intimately technical level) · mk касапи (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi pätsätä (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · pt invadir (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · mk хаки́ра (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · bg ха́квам (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · uk руби́ти (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · vi đá vào ống chân (football: to kick on the shins) · fi parantaa (to apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method) · pl zhakować (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · vi đốn (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi pärjätä (to withstand or put up with a difficult situation) · ms menggodam (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · pl porąbać (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fa نفوذ کردن (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · ru сечь (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · bg наря́звам (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · pl zhakować (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · fi heilauttaa mailaa (baseball: to swing at a pitched ball) · pl hakować (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · it aprirsi un varco (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi sohia (ice hockey: to make a flailing attempt to hit the puck) · ru руби́ть (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · pl hakować (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · cmn 黑入 (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · bg сека́ (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · cho chanli (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · vi chặt mạnh (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · fi lennättää (to strike in a frantic movement) · fi potkia pohkeille (football: to kick on the shins) · fr couper (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · id meretas (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · it sbrogliare (to accomplish a difficult programming task) · hu meghackel (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · ka შეჭრა (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · de hacken (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · pt invadir (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account) · uk сі́кти (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · be сячы́ (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · vo cöpilön (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · mk хакува (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · sv klara sig (to withstand or put up with a difficult situation) · vi đẽo (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · ka გატეხვა (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · it riconfigurare (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · acw هَكَّر (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · cu сѣщи (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · it rattoppare (to make a quick code change to patch a computer program) · fr charcuter (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · it penetrare abusivamente (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · be руба́ць (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · es hackear (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · sv stå ut (to withstand or put up with a difficult situation) · pt hackear (to gain illegal access to a computer network) · pl zrąbać (to chop or cut down in a rough manner) · pl włamywać się (to gain unauthorised access to a computer or online account)
Abbreviation of hackney (“an ordinary horse”), probably from place name Hackney.
Meanings
A horse for hire, especially one which is old and tired.
A cold wind, a piercing rain, and a bad road, with a worse hack (for his own horses had been knocked up), rendered more acute the misery which he, as a parted lover, was bound to feel. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Arrived at Home”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 84:
A person, often a journalist, hired to do routine work.
[W]e know how the life of any hack, legal or literary, in a curacy, or in a marching regiment, or at a merchant’s desk, is dull of routine, and tedious of description. 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 37, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
I got by on hack work for years before I finally published my novel.
(derogatory) Someone who is available for hire; hireling, mercenary.
(slang) The driver of a taxicab (hackney cab).
(Canada, US, colloquial) A vehicle let for hire; originally, a hackney cab, now typically a taxicab.
The interurban wasn't running because of the holiday, and the hacks, if there were any, would have been clustered round the Post Tavern at the other end of town. 1993, TC Boyle, The Road to Wellville, Penguin, published 1994, page 227:
On horse, on foot, in hacks and gilded chariots. 1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. […], Dublin; London: […] A. Dodd, →OCLC:
A hearse.
1920s, Jimmie Rodgers, Frankie and Johnny
Bring out the rubber-tired buggie/Bring out the rubber-tired hack/I'm takin' my Johnny to the graveyard/But I ain't gonna bring him back
(derogatory) An untalented writer.
He's nothing but the typical hack writer.
Dason is nothing but a two-bit hack.
(derogatory) One who is professionally successful despite producing mediocre work. (Usually applied to persons in a creative field.)
(derogatory) A talented writer-for-hire, paid to put others' thoughts into felicitous language.
(qualifier:slightly derogatory) A political agitator.
(UK, derogatory, qualifier:student politics) A person who frequently canvasses for votes, either directly or by appearing to continuously act with the ulterior motive of furthering their political career.
(obsolete) A writer who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.
Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed, / Who long was a bookseller's hack. 1767, Oliver Goldsmith, Epitaph on Edward Purdon:
Abbreviation of hackney (“an ordinary horse”), probably from place name Hackney.
Meanings
(dated) To make common or cliched; to vulgarise.
To ride a horse at a regular pace; to ride on a road (as opposed to riding cross-country etc.).
(obsolete) To live the life of a drudge or hack.
Poor madam , now condemn'd to hack
The rest of life with anxious Jack 1765, Oliver Goldsmith, The Double Transformation:
To use as a hack; to let out for hire.
To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.
The word "remarkable" has been so hacked of late. 1865, John Henry Newman, An Internal Argument for Christianity:
To drive a hackney cab.
When I was hacking in Brooklyn, I used to run him over to the Court Street restaurants, where he'd sit in Nick and Tony's Pizzeria […] 2004, Joseph Trigoboff, The Shooting Gallery, page 238:
Unclear. Perhaps imitative; compare hock, hawk. Alternatively, perhaps from hack (“chop; do something difficult”) via the idea of doing something (like breathing) or with difficulty.
Meanings
An onomatopoeia for coughing.
Haaaack... Oooooooog... A-CHOO! That was terrible.. I gotta get in shape... 2004, Intelligent Systems, translated by Nintendo of America, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Nintendo, GameCube, level/area: Rogueport:
Unclear. Perhaps imitative; compare hock, hawk. Alternatively, perhaps from hack (“chop; do something difficult”) via the idea of doing something (like breathing) or with difficulty.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A dry cough.
(countable, uncountable) A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough.
he speaks to this very question: which he does with so many hacks and hesitations 1660, H[enry] More, An Explanation of the Grand Mystery of Godliness; […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher, for W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
hacks
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (8)
fi köhäys (short, broken cough) · bg суха кашлица (dry cough) · pt tosse seca (dry cough) · ru сухо́й ка́шель (dry cough) · it tosse secca (dry cough) · nl kuch (dry cough) · fi köhinä (short, broken cough) · fi köhä (dry cough)
Unclear. Perhaps imitative; compare hock, hawk. Alternatively, perhaps from hack (“chop; do something difficult”) via the idea of doing something (like breathing) or with difficulty.