$ hack
1a. (I) /verb/ To work on something, especially to program a
computer. (See: hacker.)
1b. (I) /verb/ To do some kind of mischief, especially to play a
prank on, or penetrate, a system. (See: hacker, cracker.)
2. (I) /noun/ An item of completed work, or a solution for a
problem, that is non-generalizable, i.e., is very specific to the
application area or problem being solved.
Tutorial: Often, the application area or problem involves computer
programming or other use of a computer. Characterizing something
as a hack can be a compliment, such as when the solution is
minimal and elegant; or it can be derogatory, such as when the
solution fixes the problem but leaves the system in an
unmaintainable state.
See [Raym] for several other meanings of this term and also
definitions of several derivative terms.