hackery

English

Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

A hackery transporting cotton (1851)

A hackery transporting coir (2022)

Uncertain. Variously derived from corruption of hackney (“cheap carriage for hire”), from Hindi चक्र (cakra, “wheel”) under influence from -ery, and from Gujarati ચક્રો (cakro, “ox-cart, rickshaw”), the latter two both from Sanskrit चक्र (cakra, “wheel, disc, cycle”).

Noun

hackery (plural hackeries)

1. (India) A 2-wheeled oxcart used for transporting freight.
   • 1864, The Regulations of the Bengal Code in Force in September 1862, page 1019:

     Hackeries and carriages, loaded and empty, 8 annas.

2. (India, Sri Lanka) A 2-wheeled ox- or horsecart used for transporting people.

Synonyms

• chakra

Hypernyms

• oxcart

Etymology 2

From hack +‎ -ery. In its computing sense, from Middle English hakken (“to cut violently or coarsely”) etc., q.v. In its pejorative sense, from hackney (“cheap carriage for hire”).

Noun

hackery (uncountable)

1. (slang, chiefly derogatory) Advocacy of a position when motivated by political allegiance, public relations interests, or for other reasons considered crass compared to personal conviction.
2. (slang, computing) The use of hacks (ingenious but inelegant techniques).
   • 2012, Seymour Bosworth, M. E. Kabay, Eric Whyne, Computer Security Handbook, page 57:

     All without any of the subterfuge and hackery required to do it with Java.

References

• “hackery, n1.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
• Hugh Francis Clarke Cleghorn, "Glossary", The Forests and Gardens of South India.