heckle

English

Etymology

Transferred usage of hekelen (“to comb flax or hemp with a heckle”), from Middle English hekele (“a comb for flax or hemp”), from Middle Dutch hekelen (“to prickle, irritate”), from Proto-Germanic *hakilōną. Related to hackle.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛkəl/
  • Rhymes: -ɛkəl

Verb

heckle (third-person singular simple present heckles, present participle heckling, simple past and past participle heckled)

  1. (transitive) To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses. [from later 18th c.]
  2. (transitive) To insult, tease, make fun of or badger.
    Promise that you won't heckle me after my performance.
  3. (textiles) To prepare flax for spinning using special combs called hackles

Synonyms

(prepare flax for spinning): hackle

Translations
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Noun

heckle (plural heckles)

  1. Alternative form of hackle (“tool for separating flax”)
  2. The long shining feathers on a cock's neck.
  3. A feather ornament in the full-dress bonnets of Highland regiments.

Anagrams
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