hackle

¹ American  

[hak-uhl] / ˈhæk əl /

noun

1. one of the long, slender feathers on the neck or saddle of certain birds, as the domestic rooster, much used in making artificial flies for anglers.

2. the neck plumage of a male bird, as the domestic rooster.

3. hackles,

   1. the erectile hair on the back of an animal's neck.

      At the sound of footsteps, the dog raised her hackles.

   2. anger, especially when aroused in a challenging or challenged manner.

      with one's hackles up.

4. Angling.

   1. the legs of an artificial fly made with feathers from the neck or saddle of a rooster or other such bird.

   2. hackle fly.

5. a comb for dressing flax or hemp.

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verb (used with object)

hackled, hackling

1. Angling. to equip with a hackle.

2. to comb, as flax or hemp.

idioms

1. raise one's hackles, to arouse one's anger.

   Such officiousness always raises my hackles.

hackle ² American  

[hak-uhl] / ˈhæk əl /

verb (used with object)

hackled, hackling

1. to cut roughly; hack; mangle.

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hackle British  

/ ˈhækəl /

noun

1. any of the long slender feathers on the necks of poultry and other birds

2. angling

   1. parts of an artificial fly made from hackle feathers, representing the legs and sometimes the wings of a real fly

   2. short for hackle fly

3. a feathered ornament worn in the headdress of some British regiments

4. a steel flax comb

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verb

1. to comb (flax) using a hackle

Other Word Forms

• hackler noun

Etymology

Origin of hackle¹

First recorded in 1450–1400; late Middle English hakel(e), hakle “animal's skin; bird's plumage”; heckle

Origin of hackle¹

First recorded in 1560–70; hack ¹ + -le; cognate with Middle Dutch hakkelen

Example Sentences

Human rights groups and a smattering of legal experts have raised their hackles too.

From BBC

There, he reiterated that he had "no agenda" and stated that "all debates are possible" on the thorny issue of reforms to France's pension system that has raised the hackles of leftist parties.

From Barron's

The effect of this deal on other companies also raises the hackles of economists and trade experts.

From Los Angeles Times

The success of high-speed rail in other countries raises our competitive hackles.

From Los Angeles Times

Among those he ministered to were two female prisoners, one of them a Muslim, which raised some hackles in the Vatican.

From Los Angeles Times

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