heckle

[ hek-uhl ]

verb (used with object)

, heck·led, heck·ling.

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

   Synonyms: hound, hector, needle, provoke, bait

2. hackle ¹( def 7 ).

noun

1. hackle ¹( def 5 ).

heckle

/ ˈhɛkəl /

verb

1. to interrupt (a public speaker, performer, etc) by comments, questions, or taunts
2. Alsohacklehatchel tr to comb (hemp or flax)

noun

1. an instrument for combing flax or hemp

Derived Forms

• ˈheckler, noun

Other Words From

• heck·ler 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

Australian lawmakers have voted to censure an Aboriginal senator who heckled King Charles during his visit to Canberra last month, to express their "profound disapproval" of her protest.

From BBC

At times they heckled Mr Justice Goss, directly appealed to the jury from the dock and shouted over evidence.

From BBC

After a speech to parliamentarians in the Australian capital Canberra he was heckled by an independent senator, Lidia Thorpe, who shouted "You are not my King", in a protest about Indigenous people's rights.

From BBC

When an Aboriginal Australian senator loudly heckled King Charles moments after he delivered a speech in the nation’s Parliament House, it caught the world’s attention.

From BBC

Responding to a heckle, Powell said: "No, I wasn't there actually."

From BBC

Related Words

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