hackle

/ˈhækəl/

//ˈhækəl// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"hackle" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hackle” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.

Key facts for hackle
PropertyValue
Headwordhackle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhækəl/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hackle” sits in English frequency

hackle falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

hackle is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈhækəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 9 senses are on record.

hackle has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel. The correct English form is hackle, spelled H-A-C-K-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
  2. 2
    One of the long, narrow feathers on the neck of birds, most noticeable on the rooster.
  3. 3
    A feather used to make a fishing lure or a fishing lure incorporating a feather.
  4. 4
    By extension (because the hackles of a rooster are lifted when it is angry), the hair on the nape of the neck in dogs and other animals; also used figuratively for humans.
  5. 5
    A type of jagged crack extending inwards from the broken surface of a fractured material.
  6. 6
    A plate with rows of pointed needles used to blend or straighten hair.
  7. 7
    A feather plume on some soldier's uniforms, especially the hat or helmet.
  8. 8
    Any flimsy substance unspun, such as raw silk.
  9. 9
    Pluck; courage or energy.

Etymology

From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel.

This word in other languages

rastrillo(Español)séran(Français)Hechel(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "hackle"?
"hackle" is spelled H-A-C-K-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhækəl/.
What does "hackle" mean?
As a noun, "hackle" means: An instrument with steel pins used to comb out flax or hemp.
How do you pronounce "hackle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hackle" is /ˈhækəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "hackle"?
From Middle English hakle (compare the compound meshakele), from Old English hæcla, hacele, from Proto-Germanic *hakulǭ, equivalent to hack + -le. Cognate with Dutch hekel, German Hechel. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “hackle”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is H-A-C-K-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈhækəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list