cackle

Meanings

Noun

• The cry of a hen or goose, especially when laying an egg.
• A laugh resembling the cry of a hen or goose.
• Futile or excessively noisy talk.
• A group of hyenas.

Verb

• To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does.
• To laugh with a broken sound similar to a hen's cry.
• To talk in a silly manner; to prattle.
• To pretend to rattle (dice) in one's hand while gripping them so that they maintain their orientation.

Origin

• From Middle English caclen, cakelen. Compare Dutch kakelen, German Low German kakeln, German kakeln, Danish kagle, Swedish kackla. Compare also Old English cahhetan, ċeahhettan, German gackern.