Hack \Hack\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Hacked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hacking}.] [OE. hakken; 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. My sword hacked like a handsaw. --Shak. 2. Fig.: To mangle in speaking. --Shak.