hackle
C2Literary / Specialized / Figurative
Definition
Meaning
A long, slender feather on the neck of a bird, especially a domestic fowl; also, one of the erectile hairs along an animal's spine.
1. (Plural, 'hackles') Figuratively, anger or indignation, as suggested by the raising of hair or feathers. 2. (Plural) A steel comb used in preparing flax or hemp fibers. 3. (Verb) To comb or dress flax, hemp, or similar fibers with a hackle.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is polysemous, shifting between concrete objects (feathers, tools) and abstract emotional states (anger). The plural form 'hackles' is far more common than the singular in contemporary usage, particularly in the figurative idiom.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage of the figurative phrase 'raise one's hackles' is equally understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in its literal, technical sense; evokes a slightly formal or literary tone in its figurative sense.
Frequency
Very low frequency as a standalone word. Most commonly encountered in the fixed phrase 'raise one's hackles' or 'make one's hackles rise', which itself is of moderate frequency in journalism and descriptive prose.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb's] hackles rise[sth] raises [sb's] hacklesto hackle flaxVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raise/get someone's hackles up”
- “with one's hackles up”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in HR contexts: 'The proposed pay cuts raised employees' hackles.'
Academic
Rare in most disciplines. May appear in literary analysis or animal behavior studies.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used in descriptive language, especially about reactions to perceived insults or threats.
Technical
Specialized use in textiles (flax/hemp processing) and in ornithology/zoology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old mill still has the equipment to hackle the flax for traditional linen.
American English
- Few artisans today know how to properly hackle hemp for rope-making.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverbial use)
American English
- (No common adverbial use)
adjective
British English
- (No common adjectival use)
American English
- (No common adjectival use)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically taught at this level)
- The dog's hackles went up when it saw the stranger.
- The minister's arrogant tone raised hackles at the public enquiry.
- The proposed censorship laws immediately raised the hackles of free speech advocates across the political spectrum.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HACK (a rough cut) making the feathers (HACKLES) on a chicken's neck stand up in anger.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS AN ERECTILE PHYSICAL RESPONSE (like hair/feathers standing on end).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'хакер' (hacker).
- The plural 'hackles' (гнев) is conceptually close to 'щетиниться' (to bristle) but is a noun, not a verb.
- The textile tool 'hackle' is 'гребень для чесания льна'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hackle' as a singular for the emotion (incorrect: 'He felt a hackle'; correct: 'His hackles rose').
- Confusing 'hackles' with 'heckles' (to interrupt a performer).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern use of the word 'hackles'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. Its most common modern usage is in the plural form 'hackles' within the figurative idiom 'raise someone's hackles'.
Yes, but it is highly specialized. As a verb, it means to comb flax or hemp with a hackle (a steel comb) and is used almost exclusively in textile and historical contexts.
'Hackles' relate to anger or raised hairs/feathers. 'Heckles' are interrupting shouts at a performer or speaker. You 'raise' hackles, but you 'shout' heckles.
Yes, the term is also used for the erectile hairs along the neck and back of mammals like dogs, cats, and wolves, which bristle when the animal is threatened or aggressive.