hackle

1 of 2

noun

hack·​le ˈha-kəl 

1

a

: one of the long narrow feathers on the neck or saddle of a bird

b

: the neck plumage of the domestic fowl

2

: a comb or board with long metal teeth for dressing flax, hemp, or jute

3

hackles ˈha-kəlz  plural

a

: erectile hairs along the neck and back especially of a dog

b

: temper, dander

the issue raised some hackles

4

a

: an artificial fishing fly made chiefly of the filaments of a cock's neck feathers

b

: filaments of cock feather projecting from the head of an artificial fly

hackle

2 of 2

verb

hackled; hackling ˈha-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to comb out with a hackle

hackler

ˈha-k(ə-)lər 

noun

Did you know?

In its earliest uses in the 15th century, hackle denoted either a bird's neck plumage or an instrument used to comb out long fibers of flax, hemp, or jute. Apparently, some folks saw a resemblance between the neck feathers of domestic birds—which, on a male, become erect when the bird is defensive—and the prongs of the comb-like tool. In the 19th century, English speakers extended the word's use to both dogs and people. Like the bird's feathers, the erectile hairs on the back of a dog's neck stand up when the animal is agitated. With humans, use of the word hackles is usually figurative. When you raise someone's hackles, you make them angry or put them on the defensive.

Examples of hackle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As his questioning crosses taboos and boundaries, raising Sister Barnes’ hackles, cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung’s camera, which has been cutting between various degrees of close-up as the conversation progresses, breaks free from stasis. —Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024

Chen sees Tapestry pursuing potential acquisitions in outerwear, jewelry or beauty and wellness that would be less likely to raise the FTC’s hackles. —Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Mazzoli does this instinctively, making our hackles rise. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

Most of them wander far beyond our perception, but a few come close enough to Earth to raise our hackles. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hakell; akin to Old High German hāko hook — more at hook

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

hackle

noun

hack·​le

ˈhak-əl

1

: a comb for smoothing fibers (as flax or hemp)

2

: one of the long narrow feathers on the neck or lower back of a bird

3

: hairs along the neck and back especially of a dog that can be made to stand up