heckle
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L321820 on Wikidata ↗verb
- verbally harass a speaker
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈhɛkəl/ / [ˈhɛkəl] ~ [ˈhɛkl̩]
noun
Etymology: Transferred usage of Middle English hekelen (“to comb flax or hemp with a heckle”), from hekele (“a comb for flax or hemp”), from Middle Dutch hekelen (“to prickle, irritate”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakilōną, related to *hakô (“hook”). Related to hackle.
- Alternative form of hackle (“tool for separating flax”).
- The long shining feathers on a cock's neck.
- A feather ornament in the full-dress bonnets of Highland regiments.
- An rude interruption during a show, especially a comedy performance
“The stand-up dealt well with the heckles from the crowd, replying with raucous banter to raise plenty of laughs.”
verb
Etymology: Transferred usage of Middle English hekelen (“to comb flax or hemp with a heckle”), from hekele (“a comb for flax or hemp”), from Middle Dutch hekelen (“to prickle, irritate”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakilōną, related to *hakô (“hook”). Related to hackle.
- To question harshly in an attempt to find or reveal weaknesses.
- To insult, tease, make fun of or badger, especially during a comedy performance.
“Promise that you won't heckle me after my performance.”
“As late as 1854, the antichoir members of an Ohio Methodist congregation heckled the choir whenever it tried to sing, hoping to "bring discredit on the singers by creating discord."”
- To prepare (flax) for spinning, using special combs called hackles.