Hac"kle (hăk"k'l), n. [See
Heckle, and cf. Hatchel.]
1. A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.;
a hatchel.
2. Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw
silk.
3. One of the peculiar, long, narrow feathers
on the neck of fowls, most noticeable on the cock, -- often used in
making artificial flies; hence, any feather so used.
4. An artificial fly for angling, made of
feathers.
Hac"kle, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Hackled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb.
n. Hackling (-kl&ibreve;ng).] 1.
To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine,
by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.
2. To tear asunder; to break in
pieces.
The other divisions of the kingdom being
hackled and torn to pieces.
Burke.
