̈ɪˈhækl n. & v. --n. 1 a long
feather or
series of feathers on
the neck or
saddle of a
domestic cock
and other birds. 2
Fishing an
artificial fly dressed
with a hackle. 3 a feather in a
Highland soldier's
bonnet. 4 (in pl.) the
erectile hairs
along the
back of a
dog,
which rise when it is
angry or alarmed. 5 a
steel comb for dressing flax. --v.tr.
dress or comb with a hackle. ømake one's hackles rise
cause one to be angry or
indignant. [ME hechele, hakele, prob. f. OE f. WG]