penny-a-liner

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English

Etymology

From penny-a-line +‎ -er.

Noun

penny-a-liner (plural penny-a-liners)

  1. (derogatory, dated) One who supplies writing to public journals for a set fee per line of text; a poor writer for hire; a hack.
    • 1840, M. A. Titmarsh [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], The Paris Sketch Book, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Macrone, , →OCLC:
      [] (a dozen years ago he was not even a penny-a-liner: no such luck); []

References