Háckney. n.s. [hacnai, Welsh; hackeneye, Teuton. haquenée, French.]

1. A pacing horse.

2. A hired horse; hired horses being usually taught to pace, or recommended as good pacers.

   Light and lewd persons were as easily suborned to make an affidavit for money, as post-horses and hackneys are taken to hire. Bacon's Off. of Alienation.

   Who, mounted on a broom, the nag
   And hackney of a Lapland hag,
   In quest of you came hither post,
   Within an hour, I'm sure, at most. Hudibras, p. iii.

3. A hireling; a prostitute.

               Three kingdoms rung
   With his accumulative and hackney tongue. Roscommon.

   That is no more than every lover
   Does from his hackney lady suffer. Hudibras.

   Shall each spurgall'd hackney of the day,
   Or each new pension'd sycophant, pretend
   To break my windows. Pope, Dial. 2.

4. Any thing let out for hire.

   A wit can study in the streets;
   Not quite so well, however, as one mought;
   A hackney coach may chance to spoil a thought. Pope.

5. Much used; common.

   These notions young students in physick derive from their hackney authors. Harvey on Consumptions.