Hack"ney, a. Let out for hire; devoted to common use; hence, much used;
trite; mean; as, hackney coaches; hackney authors. "Hackney tongue."
Roscommon.
Hack"ney, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackneyed (-nd); 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 so lavish of my presence been, So common-hackneyed in the
eyes of men.
Shak.