A Hackneyed Speech

1.25pm

A Hackneyed Speech

Hackney \Hack"ney\, n.; pl. Hackneys. [OE. haceney, hacenay;
cf. F. haquen['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 orig. meaning, a jolting horse. Cf. Hack a horse,
Nag.]

1. A horse for riding or driving; a nag; a pony. --Chaucer.

2. A horse or pony kept for hire.

3. A carriage kept for hire; a hack; a hackney coach.

4. A hired drudge; a hireling; a prostitute.

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.

Hackney \Hack"ney\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackneyed; 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.

Had I lavish of my presence been, So
common-hackneyed in the eyes of men. --Shak.

2. To carry in a hackney coach. --Cowper.