cackle

[ kak-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, cack·led, cack·ling.

1. to utter a shrill, broken sound or cry, as of a hen.
2. to laugh in a shrill, broken manner.
3. to chatter noisily; prattle.

verb (used with object)

, cack·led, cack·ling.

1. to utter with cackles; express by cackling:

   They cackled their disapproval.

noun

1. the act or sound of cackling.
2. chatter; idle talk.

cackle

/ ˈkækəl /

verb

1. intr (esp of a hen) to squawk with shrill notes
2. intr to laugh or chatter raucously
3. tr to utter in a cackling manner

noun

1. the noise or act of cackling
2. noisy chatter
3. cut the cackle informal.
   cut the cackle to stop chattering; be quiet

Derived Forms

• ˈcackler, noun

Other Words From

• cackler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cackle¹

1175–1225; Middle English cakelen; cognate with Dutch kakelen, Low German kakeln, Swedish kackla

Word History and Origins

Origin of cackle¹

C13: probably from Middle Low German kākelen, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

A smile, wry and lopsided, grows into a chuckle — which then escalates to a cackle most improper.

From Ozy

Just as familiar as her face to anyone who has watched TV or movies in the past 40 years are Smart’s dazzlingly deadpan line readings, her come-hither drawl and her signature sharp cackle.

From Washington Post

For most of the film I was too mortified to actually laugh out loud, but that one got a cackle from me.

From The Daily Beast

Kabakov is the Beckett of the art world, creating silences and divorcing himself from the cackle.

From The Daily Beast

“I am wreaking a double vengeance,” writes Cellini, barely suppressing a cackle.

From The Daily Beast

The latter, fastened by the legs to the rails of the wagons, kept up a deafening cackle.

From Project Gutenberg

When she heard a hen cackle she always ran to look for the nest, and one day she discovered one under the fruit-shed.

From Project Gutenberg

"Hold your—cackle," cried one, "he is going to sing;" and the whole party had their eyes turned with expectation towards the bird.

From Project Gutenberg

Her hard but not unmusical laugh had given place to a grating cackle, and a leer of affected gaiety had replaced the merry eye.

From Project Gutenberg

How the young hens would giggle if I did, and how the old ones would cackle!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chortle
• giggle
• laugh