heckle

[hek-uhl]

verb (used with object)

heckled, heckling 

1. to harass (a public speaker, performer, etc.) with impertinent questions, gibes, or the like; badger.

   Synonyms: hound, hector, needle, provoke, bait

2. hackle.

noun

1. hackle.

heckle

/ ˈhɛkəl /

verb

1. to interrupt (a public speaker, performer, etc) by comments, questions, or taunts

2. Also: hackle.  hatchel. (tr) to comb (hemp or flax)

noun

1. an instrument for combing flax or hemp

Other Word Forms

• heckler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of heckle¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English hekelen, variant of hechelen “to comb flax”; akin to hackle ¹, hatchel

Word History and Origins

Origin of heckle¹

C15: Northern and East Anglian form of _hackle

Example Sentences

The Northern Irishman was preparing to hit his approach to the 16th green when he was heckled by members of the crowd, with one shouting "freedom".

From BBC

Employees of the public works department, whose engineers have been accused of aiding in the graft, have been allowed to stop wearing their uniforms following reports that they were being heckled and harassed in public.

From BBC

On Monday, that anger reached Northern California, where Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., was jeered and heckled at two forums in Chico and Red Bluff, reportedly his first in-person town halls in nearly 8 years.

From Salon

Conservative councillors were heckled with shouts of "shame" during a council debate on asylum housing.

From BBC

The World War II veterans heckled them: “Why don’t you go to Hanoi?”

From Salon

Related Words

• badger 
• bully 
• embarrass 
• hound 
• interrupt 
• pester 
• rattle 
• ridicule 
• taunt 
• tease