hackle en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
- (countable, in-plural, uncountable, usually) One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the rooster.
- (countable, uncountable) A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.
-
(countable, in-plural, uncountable, usually) By extension (because the hackles of a rooster are lifted when it is angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans.
When the dog got angry, his hackles rose and he growled.
Suppose it happened to be the case that the majority of individuals raised their hackles only when they were truly intending to go on for a very long time in the war of attrition. The obvious counterploy would evolve: individuals would give up immediately when an opponent raised his hackles.
1976, Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, Kindle edition, OUP Oxford, published 2016, page 101:
- (countable, uncountable) A type of jagged crack extending inwards from the broken surface of a fractured material.
- (countable, uncountable) A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.
- (countable, uncountable) A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.
- (countable, uncountable) Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk.
-
(slang, uncountable) Pluck; courage or energy.
"COME ALONG YE GRASS-COMBERS, SHOW some hackle," David Ingram, striding ahead, turned back and called.
1949, Eric Philbrook Kelly, The Amazing Journey of David Ingram, page 11:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hackles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
hackler · hackleback · hackly · saddle hackle
Synonyms
panache · plume · heckle · hatchel
Translations (42)
sv häckla (instrument with pins) · kix vèushàngmài (feather on the neck of bird) · ru чесалка (instrument with pins) · gl restrelo (instrument with pins) · mi mōtihetihe (hair on the nape of the neck of animals) · ga taisteal (instrument with pins) · hu gereben (instrument with pins) · es rastrillo (instrument with pins) · ota طراق (instrument with pins) · cy heislan (instrument with pins) · lv suseklis (instrument with pins) · zlw-ocs ochle (instrument with pins) · gsw Hächle (instrument with pins) · cy caseg (instrument with pins) · fi höyhenkoriste (feather plume on soldier's uniform) · da hegle (instrument with pins) · bg чесалка за лен (instrument with pins) · ga siostal (instrument with pins) · gl ripo (instrument with pins) · fi röyhelö (flimsy substance unspun) · rm tscharesch (instrument with pins) · nl hekel (instrument with pins) · fr séran (instrument with pins) · ar قَوْزَعَة (feather on the neck of bird) · gl ripanzo (instrument with pins) · it diliscatoio (instrument with pins) · fi häkilä (instrument with pins) · cs vochle (instrument with pins) · fi häkilöin (instrument with pins) · fi suka (implement to blend or straighten hair) · uk плюмаж (feather plume on soldier's uniform) · fi niskakarva (hair on the nape of the neck of animals) · gl sedeiro (instrument with pins) · de Hechel (instrument with pins) · fa فلخمه (instrument with pins) · cy heisyllt (instrument with pins) · pt ripador (instrument with pins) · fi kaulahöyhen (feather on the neck of bird) · ro darac (instrument with pins) · pt ripanço (instrument with pins) · ru хо́лка (hair on the nape of the neck of animals) · izh häglä (instrument with pins)