heckle

Meanings

Plural: heckles

Noun

a comb for separating flax fibers
Alternative form of hackle (“tool for separating flax”).
The long shining feathers on a cock's neck.
A feather ornament in the full-dress bonnets of Highland regiments.
An rude interruption during a show, especially a comedy performance

Verb

comb with a heckle
- "heckle hemp or flax"
challenge aggressively
To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
To insult, tease, make fun of or badger, especially during a comedy performance.
To prepare flax for spinning using special combs called hackles.

Origin / 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-Germanic *hakilōną, related to *hakô (“hook”). Related to hackle.

Synonyms

hackle, hatchel

Scrabble Score: 15

heckle is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
heckle is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
heckle is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

heckle is a valid Words With Friends word