4 definitions found

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Hacker \Hack"er\, n.
     One who, or that which, hacks. Specifically: A cutting
     instrument for making notches; esp., one used for notching
     pine trees in collecting turpentine; a hack.

From WordNet (r) 1.6 [wn]:

  hacker
       n 1: someone who plays golf poorly
       2: a programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy
          the challenge of breaking into other computers
       3: one who works hard at boring tasks [syn: {hack}, {drudge}]

From Jargon File (4.0.0/24 July 1996) [jargon]:

  hacker /n./  [originally, someone who makes furniture with an
     axe] 1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of programmable
     systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as opposed to most
     users, who prefer to learn only the minimum necessary.  2. One who
     programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who enjoys
     programming rather than just theorizing about programming.  3. A
     person capable of appreciating {hack value}.  4. A person who is
     good at programming quickly.  5. An expert at a particular program,
     or one who frequently does work using it or on it; as in `a Unix
     hacker'.  (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who
     fit them congregate.)  6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind.  One
     might be an astronomy hacker, for example.  7. One who enjoys the
     intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming or circumventing
     limitations.  8. [deprecated] A malicious meddler who tries to
     discover sensitive information by poking around.  Hence `password
     hacker', `network hacker'.  The correct term for this sense is
     {cracker}.
  
     The term `hacker' also tends to connote membership in the global
     community defined by the net (see {network, the} and
     {Internet address}).  It also implies that the person described
     is seen to subscribe to some version of the hacker ethic (see
     {hacker ethic}).
  
     It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to describe
     oneself that way.  Hackers consider themselves something of an
     elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though one to which new
     members are gladly welcome.  There is thus a certain ego
     satisfaction to be had in identifying yourself as a hacker (but if
     you claim to be one and are not, you'll quickly be labeled
     {bogus}).  See also {wannabee}.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:

  hacker
  
     <person, jargon> (Originally, someone who makes furniture with
     an axe) 1. A person who enjoys exploring the details of
     programmable systems and how to stretch their capabilities, as
     opposed to most users, who prefer to learn only the minimum
     necessary.
  
     2. One who programs enthusiastically (even obsessively) or who
     enjoys programming rather than just theorizing about
     programming.
  
     3. A person capable of appreciating {hack value}.
  
     4. A person who is good at programming quickly.
  
     5. An expert at a particular program, or one who frequently
     does work using it or on it; as in "a {Unix} hacker".
     (Definitions 1 through 5 are correlated, and people who fit
     them congregate.)
  
     6. An expert or enthusiast of any kind.  One might be an
     astronomy hacker, for example.
  
     7. One who enjoys the intellectual challenge of creatively
     overcoming or circumventing limitations.
  
     8. (Deprecated) A malicious meddler who tries to discover
     sensitive information by poking around.  Hence "password
     hacker", "network hacker".  The correct term is {cracker}.
  
     The term "hacker" also tends to connote membership in the
     global community defined by the net (see {The Network} and
     {Internet address}).  It also implies that the person
     described is seen to subscribe to some version of the {hacker
     ethic}.
  
     It is better to be described as a hacker by others than to
     describe oneself that way.  Hackers consider themselves
     something of an elite (a meritocracy based on ability), though
     one to which new members are gladly welcome.  Thus while it is
     gratifying to be called a hacker, false claimants to the title
     are quickly labelled as "{bogus}" or a "{wannabee}".
  
     9. (University of Maryland, rare) A programmer who does not
     understand proper programming techniques and principles and
     doesn't have a Computer Science degree.  Someone who just
     bangs on the keyboard until something happens.  For example,
     "This program is nothing but {spaghetti code}.  It must have
     been written by a hacker".
  
     (26 Aug 1996)
  
  
