noun

Hackney

hak-nee

Hackney (noun) means a carriage, cab, or vehicle available for public hire. Example: “They hailed a hackney to take them across town.”

noun

A carriage, cab, or vehicle available for public hire.

"They hailed a hackney to take them across town."

adjective

Made dull or unoriginal through overuse; hackneyed.

"The speech was full of hackney phrases about "thinking outside the box.""

How to Use Hackney

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA vehicle for hire, or (as an adjective) worn out through overuse.

Common mistake

The everyday adjective form is usually spelled "hackneyed," not "hackney."

Easily confused with

hackneyed

Word Forms

hackneyed past tense, hackneys plural, hackneys singular

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They hailed a _____ to take them across town.

Etymology

From the London borough of Hackney, once known for pastures where horses were kept for hire.

Rhymes for Hackney

ey key hey bey dey ley fey ney Rey grey they joey

See all rhymes for Hackney →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Hackney” mean?

The word “Hackney” means a carriage, cab, or vehicle available for public hire. In plain terms, a vehicle for hire, or (as an adjective) worn out through overuse.

How do you pronounce “Hackney”?

“Hackney” is pronounced hak-nee (/hækni/ in IPA).

How do you use “Hackney” in a sentence?

Here is “Hackney” used in a sentence: “They hailed a hackney to take them across town.”

What part of speech is “Hackney”?

Depending on how it is used, “Hackney” can be a noun and an adjective.

How many meanings does “Hackney” have?

“Hackney” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a carriage, cab, or vehicle available for public hire.