hackle

Definitions


[ˈhakl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- erectile hairs along an animal's back, which rise when it is angry or alarmed
(e.g: the dog continued to growl, its hackles raised)

- a long, narrow feather on the neck or saddle of a domestic cock or other bird

- a steel comb for dressing flax


Phrases:
- make someone's hackles rise

Origin:
late Middle English (in hackle): variant of hatchel


[ˈhakl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- dress or comb (flax) with a hackle
(e.g: taking each section separately the student should lightly hackle the extreme ends)


Phrases:
- make someone's hackles rise

Origin:
late Middle English (in hackle): variant of hatchel




definition by Oxford Dictionaries