Dictionary.net

comb with a heckle; "heckle hemp or flax"

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

comb with a heckle; "heckle hemp or flax"

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

Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.

An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.

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

To tear asunder; to break in pieces.

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.

Any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk.

An artificial fly for angling, made of feathers.

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

To tear asunder; to break in pieces.

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.

To dress or comb, as flax or hemp; tear into pieces; mangle in cutting. Also, hatchel, heckle.

An instrument with hooks or iron teeth for sorting hemp or flax: any flimsy substance unspun: a feather in a cock's neck: a hook and fly for angling, dressed with this feather.

To dress with a hackle, as flax: to tear rudely asunder.

Iron tool for combing flax, &c.; feather in a cock's neck.

Unspun fiber, as raw silk.

A feather from the neck or back of a cock.

n. [Dutch, English] An instrument with teeth for separating the coarse part of flax or hemp from the flue; —any flimsy substance unspun, as raw silk;—a fly for angling.

Raw silk, any filmy substance unspun.