From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
hackle \hac"kle\ (h[a^]k"k'l), n. [See Heckle, and cf.
Hatchel.]
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1. A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, etc.; a hatchel.
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2. Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.
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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.
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4. An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hackle \Hac"kle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hackled (h[a^]k"k'ld);
p. pr. & vb. n. Hackling (h[a^]k"kl[i^]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.
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2. To tear asunder; to break in pieces.
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The other divisions of the kingdom being hackled and
torn to pieces. --Burke.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Hatchel \Hatch"el\ (-[e^]l; 277), n. [OE. hechele, hekele; akin
to D. hekel, G. hechel, Dan. hegle, Sw. h[aum]kla, and prob.
to E. hook. See Hook, and cf. Hackle, Heckle.]
An instrument with long iron teeth set in a board, for
cleansing flax or hemp from the tow, hards, or coarse part; a
kind of large comb; -- called also hackle and heckle.
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