HACKNEY, originally a riding-horse (from Fr. haquenee, an ambling horse or mare, especially for ladies to ride ; the Eng lish "hack" is simply an abbreviation). Now, however, the hack ney is bred for driving as well as riding (see HORSE: Breeds). From the hiring-out of hackneys, the word came to be associated with employment for hire (so "a hack," or "drudge"), e.g., hack ney-chair, hackney-boat. The hackney-coach, a coach with four wheels and two horses, was a hired public conveyance (see