Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Hackle

//ˈhækəl// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants wordnet
  3. 3
    One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the rooster. countable, in-plural, uncountable, usually
  4. 4
    A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    By extension (because the hackles of a rooster are lifted when it is angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans. countable, in-plural, uncountable, usually

    "When the dog got angry, his hackles rose and he growled."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    A type of jagged crack extending inwards from the broken surface of a fractured material. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    Pluck; courage or energy. slang, uncountable

    ""COME ALONG YE GRASS-COMBERS, SHOW some hackle," David Ingram, striding ahead, turned back and called."

Verb
  1. 1
    To dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.

    "Then, with a smile that seemed to have all the freshness of the matutinal hour in it, she bent again to her work of hackling flax."

  2. 2
    comb with a heckle wordnet
  3. 3
    To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel. transitive
  4. 4
    To tear asunder; to break into pieces. archaic, transitive

    "the other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and torn to pieces"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel.

Etymology 2

From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel.

See also for "hackle"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: hackle