'hack' originates from Middle English 'hakken', ultimately from Old English 'haccian', where the root meant 'to cut roughly or chop'.

'hack' changed from Middle English 'hakken' (to cut) and Old English 'haccian' and later acquired senses such as 'hired writer' (19th century) and the modern sense of 'clever shortcut' or computing sense 'to break into systems'.

Initially, it meant 'to cut or chop roughly', but over time it evolved to include 'to perform dull work for pay', 'a crude or clumsy piece of work', and the modern meanings 'clever shortcut' and 'to gain unauthorized computer access'.