hackle

noun
UK: /ˈhækəl/
US: /ˈhækəl/

  1. The hairs on the back of the neck, especially when raised in anger or fear.

    1. The dog raised its hackles when it saw the stranger.
    2. His hackle rose as he listened to their accusations regarding the incident.

  2. A long, slender feather on a rooster's neck or saddle.

    1. The rooster's hackle was a bright, iridescent green.
    2. Fly fishermen often use rooster hackle to create realistic-looking artificial flies.

  3. A toothed board or comb used for dressing flax or hemp.

    1. She used a hackle to prepare the flax fibers for spinning.
    2. The fibers went through a hackle, ensuring only the longest and finest remained.

Synonyms

anger tease comb annoy nettle irritate vex
hackle verb

  1. To irritate and annoy someone.

    1. Don't hackle me!
    2. The reporter tried to hackle the politician during the press conference.

  2. To dress flax or hemp.

    1. She hackled the flax to separate the fibers.
    2. After scutching, the raw flax must be hackled before it can be spun.

  3. Of an animal, to raise the hackles (the hair on the back of the neck) in anger or fear.

    1. The dog hackled when it saw the postman.
    2. His cat hackled and hissed when a loud noise startled her yesterday.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hackle" in English means: The hairs on the back of the neck, especially when raised in anger or fear., A long, slender feather on a rooster's neck or saddle., A toothed board or comb used for dressing flax or hemp..

The phonetic transcription of "hackle" is /ˈhækəl/ in British English and /ˈhækəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hackle": anger, tease, comb, annoy, nettle, irritate, vex.

Example usage of "hackle": "The dog raised its hackles when it saw the stranger.". More examples on the page.