nounplural noun hackneys

• 1mainly historical A horse or pony of a light breed with a high-stepping trot, used in harness.

  ‘As the hackney rolled forth the meaning of Caroline's answer registered in Charlotte's mind.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘You'd feel for all the other taxi drivers and hackneys, particularly those working at night.’
  • ‘He said the only problem taxi drivers had with the proposed new code was the proposal that all taxis, hackneys and limousines be fitted with a front passenger swivel seat to facilitate entry and exit for people with reduced mobility.’
  • ‘People in the country should get hackneys or taxis or even better, use a designated driver.’
  • ‘Over the same period, the number of hackneys has fallen from more than 3,650 to less than 1,260.’

  1. 1.1usually as modifier A horse-drawn vehicle kept for hire.
     ‘a hackney coach’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Taxi licensing is dealt with by local authorities and Ribble Valley Council currently has 26 operators, 66 private hire vehicles, 49 hackney cabs and 81 drivers on its books.’
     • ‘One means was, of course, new taxation, which was imposed on salt, stamps, hackney coaches, and, especially, on land.’
     • ‘And three-quarters of private hire taxis and 55 per cent of hackney cabs stopped for roadside checks were discovered to have faults.’
     • ‘He said 87 objections were received from private hire employees, but none from hackney drivers.’
     • ‘Private hire cabbies have united with hackney drivers as they prepare for battle over bus lanes.’
     Synonyms

     wagon, hackney, hansom, gig, landau, trap, caravan, car