from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hack \Hack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hacked} (h[a^]kt); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Hacking}.] [OE. hakken, AS. haccian; akin to D.
hakken, G. hacken, Dan. hakke, Sw. hacka, and perh. to E.
hew. Cf. {Hew} to cut, {Haggle}.]
1. To cut irregulary, without skill or definite purpose; to
notch; to mangle by repeated strokes of a cutting
instrument; as, to hack a post.
[1913 Webster]
My sword hacked like a handsaw. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: To mangle in speaking. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Computers) To program (a computer) for pleasure or
compulsively; especially, to try to defeat the security
systems and gain unauthorized access to a computer.
[PJC]
4. To bear, physically or emotionally; as, he left the job
because he couldn't hack the pressure. [Colloq.]
[PJC]