English Explanatory Dictionary

heckle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
  2. To insult, tease, make fun of or badger, especially during a comedy performance.
  3. To prepare (flax) for spinning, using special combs called hackles.
noun
  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.
  4. An rude interruption during a show, especially a comedy performance

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛkəl/ [ˈhɛkəl] ~ [ˈhɛkl̩] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-heckle.wav

Word forms

heckle heckles heckling heckled

Etymology

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

Synonyms

badger barrack gird heckle jeer roast taunt tease grill interrogate hackle

Antonyms

cheer incite

Related words

heckler heckling abash
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