penny-a-liner

English

Etymology

penny-a-line +‎ -er.

Noun

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

(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, volumes (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

“penny-a-liner”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

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