Hackintosh

H4A1C3K5I1N1T1O1S1H4
/ˈhækɪntɒʃ/

noun

A computer other than a Macintosh that has been configured to run the Macintosh operating system (OS X or macOS).

OriginEnglish Macintosh ← Scottish Gaelic Mac an Tòisiche ← Old Irish toísech →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounHackintosh (plural Hackintoshes)

plural Hackintoshes · alternative hackintosh

  1. informalcomputingA computer other than a Macintosh that has been configured to run the Macintosh operating system (OS X or macOS).

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*keg-, *keng-
  2. Proto-Germanic*hakkōną
  3. Proto-West Germanic*hakkōn
  4. Old English*haccian
  5. Middle Englishhakken
  6. Englishhack
  7. Proto-Celtic*makkʷos
  8. Old Irishmacc
  9. Middle Irishmac
  10. Scottish Gaelicmac
  11. Scottish Gaelican
  12. Proto-Celtic*to-
  13. Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
  14. Proto-Indo-European*wéydtus
  15. Proto-Celtic*wissus
  16. Proto-Celtic*towissus
  17. Proto-Celtic*towissākos
  18. Old Irishtoísech
  19. Scottish Gaelictòisiche
  20. Scottish GaelicMac an Tòisiche
  21. EnglishMcIntosh
  22. EnglishMacintosh
  23. EnglishHackintosh

Blend of hack + Macintosh.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Hackintosh. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hackintosh

MLA

“Hackintosh.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hackintosh. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hackintosh,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hackintosh.

Source: Hackintosh on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.