heckle

Meanings

Verb

• To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
• To insult, tease, make fun of or badger.
• To prepare flax for spinning using special combs called hackles

Noun

• Alternative of hackle
• The long shining feathers on a cock's neck.
• A feather ornament in the full-dress bonnets of Highland regiments.

Origin

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