penny-a-liner

[pen-ee-uh-lahy-ner]

noun

Chiefly British Archaic.

1. a hack writer.

penny-a-liner

noun

1. rare,  a hack writer or journalist

Word History and Origins

Origin of penny-a-liner¹

1825–35; penny-a-line (of writing) paid for at the rate of a penny per line + -er ¹