Hackle

·vt To tear asunder; to break in pieces.

II. Hackle ·noun Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.

III. Hackle ·noun An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.

IV. Hackle ·noun A comb for dressing flax, raw silk, ·etc.; a hatchel.

V. Hackle ·vt To separate, as the coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a hackle or hatchel.

VI. Hackle ·noun 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.