This article has a great definition of hack.

The books pay homage to the spirit that the word "hack," enjoyed before it was co-opted by malevolent idiots: a "hack" is what happens when sublime understanding of a concept allows you to do something wholly wonderful and unexpected with a technology.

Looking at the Jargon File, this definition of hack doesn't fall very well into any of the current definitions.

And here's a Jargon file variation of hack that I was not familar with:

9. [MIT] v. To explore the basements, roof ledges,
and steam tunnels of a large, institutional building, to the dismay
of Physical Plant workers and (since this is usually performed at
educational institutions) the Campus Police.

So, since the definition from the article doesn't fall into any of the current definitions, I decided to do something about it:

To: jargon@thyrsus.com

Howdy Jargon Filers,

Here is a new definition of "hack" that doesn't quite fall into any of the current definitions in The File, though remains true to the concept of hacks.
http://catb.org/esr/jargon/html/H/hack.html

http://www.suntimes.com/output/worktech/cst-fin-andy07.html
[snip]
The books pay homage to the spirit that the word "hack," enjoyed before it was co-opted by malevolent idiots: a "hack" is what happens when sublime understanding of a concept allows you to do something wholly wonderful and unexpected with a technology.
[/snip]

Keep up the good work!

TOPIC: tech