hackle
UK[ˈhak(ə)l]US[ˈhakəl]
n
A long, slender feather on the neck or back of a domestic fowl or other bird.
n
A fishing fly made from a feather.
n
(hackles) The hairs or feathers on an animal's neck that rise when it is angry or alarmed.
v
Dress or comb (flax or hemp) with a hackle.
Etymology
The word 'hackle' originates from the Middle English 'hakell', which is related to the Old English 'hacule', a diminutive form of an unattested base word. This Germanic root is connected to the Old High German 'hahhila', meaning 'cloak' or 'mantle', likely referring to a garment made of feathers or fur. The semantic journey moved from a general term for a covering or cloak to the specific, specialized meaning of the neck plumage of a bird or animal, which can be raised like a ruff or mantle. The verb sense, relating to combing flax, developed separately, influenced by the tool's toothed appearance resembling a cock's neck feathers.
Analysis
The word 'hackle' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The rooster's iridescent hackles gleamed in the sunlight.
When the dog saw the intruder, its hackles rose in a display of aggression.
The old craft of hackling flax is rarely practiced today.