I guess because you'd hack through undergrowth to make progress easier, so a hack can also be a shortcut to facilitate some other action. 

I guess language just evolves. I've learned an improvement is a 'buff' and the opposite of buff is a 'nerf' 🤣 Both words can be used as verbs, too. 

We oldies have had to learn a whole new language and meanings for bump, firehose, footprint, tag, virus, block, catfish, ping, swipe, tablet, mouse etc etc etc

some more logical than others 😁