hackle (verb)

long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants

heckle, hackle, hatchel (verb)

comb with a heckle

"heckle hemp or flax"

hackle (Noun)

An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.

hackle (Noun)

One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the cock.

hackle (Noun)

A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.

hackle (Noun)

By extension (because the hackles of a cock are lifted when it's angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans.

hackle (Noun)

A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.

hackle (Noun)

A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.

hackle (Verb)

To dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle; to prepare fibres of flax or hemp for spinning.

hackle (Verb)

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

hackle (Verb)

To tear asunder; to break into pieces.

Hackle

The hackle is a clipped feather plume that is attached to a military headdress. In the British Army and the armies of some Commonwealth countries the hackle is worn by some infantry regiments, especially those designated as fusilier regiments and those with Scottish and Northern Irish origins. The colour of the hackle varies from regiment to regiment. The hackle should not be confused with the much longer set of feathers commonly attached to the feather bonnet worn by Highland regiments.

Hackle

The hackle is a clipped plume or short spray of coloured feathers that is attached to a military headdress, with different colours being associated with particular regiments.In the British Army and the armies of some Commonwealth countries, the hackle is worn by some infantry regiments, especially those designated as fusilier regiments and those with Scottish and Northern Irish origins. The modern hackle has its origins in a much longer plume, originally referred to by its Scots name, heckle, which was commonly attached to the feather bonnet worn by Highland regiments (now usually only worn by drummers, pipers and bandsmen). The smaller version originated in a regimental emblem adopted by the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, to be worn in the sun helmet issued in hot-weather postings from the 1870s.